Project profile — Rural Capacity Building Project

• Ethiopia (100.00%)

• Agricultural policy and administrative management:
Agricultural policy and administrative management (31110) (4.00%)
Agricultural extension (31166) (43.00%)
Agricultural education/training (31181) (10.00%)
Agricultural research (31182) (33.00%)
Agricultural services (31191) (10.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)

The Rural Capacity Building Project is a joint CIDA-World Bank-Government of Ethiopia initiative aiming to strengthen agricultural services and systems in order to improve productivity. The project, implemented by the World Bank, works to improve food security for farmers, a critical sector of the population in a country where 90% of the population relies on agriculture for income. Activities under the initiative include training officials at regional and district levels in specified services, such as resource management or livestock; equipping Farmer Training Centres; expanding and applying research; and introducing new market systems and services. There are five technical components to the project, the first of which is building agricultural capacity through technical vocational education and training. The second component, the provision of agricultural extension services, particularly targets both market-oriented farmers and women. Enhancing women’s participation and promoting gender equality concerns in all aspects of this component are important concerns. The third component, agricultural research, specifically involves institutional strengthening of the National Agricultural Research System; component four, meanwhile, focuses on improving information and communication systems within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The final component consists of developing agricultural market institutions, including support for the new Ethiopia Commodity Exchange developed in 2008, as well as strengthening and developing sanitary and phytosanitary standards and the institutions necessary to utilize and promote them. All CIDA disbursements for this project have been completed.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (September 2013) include: Agricultural technical and vocational education training component: (1) a national plan for Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training (ATVET) was developed and disseminated; (2) four ATVET colleges were provided with furnishings and material for offices, classrooms and libraries; (3) two ATVET colleges have successfully implemented strategic plans, contributing to improved learning environments; and (4) revised occupational standards and curriculum for 56 subjects were developed based on the national plan. Agriculture extension component: (1) new technologies and practices were adopted among farming households; (2) 16,917 members (3,750 women) are participating in farmer-research-extension groups (FREGs); (3) 22,200 agriculture extension officers (3,048 women) were provided with on-the-job training in order to transfer knowledge and skills to women and men farmers; and (4) 2,409 Farmers Training Centres were provided with furnishings and 1,840 of them are fully functional. Agricultural research component: (1) institutional capacity in agricultural research was enhanced through the funding of 698 proposals under the Farmer Innovation Fund which seeks to promote innovations among farmer groups; (2) 25 technologies were improved or practices were tested, adapted and scaled up through FREGs; and (3) 40 national high priority agricultural research and development projects were started, of which 32 were completed, and 39 regional projects were successfully completed. Information and communications component: 80 out of 136 project districts were provided with internet connectivity to facilitate information sharing with regional and federal agriculture offices. Marketing, sanitary and phytosanitary component: (1) information technology solutions for the more effective operation of the Ethiopia Stock Exchange were implemented, including providing an interactive voice response and short message service (SMS) system, and operationalizing 50 out of a planned 150 electronic tickers in rural areas for the dissemination of real time commodity market prices; and (2) the services and functionality of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange were enhanced through increased volume of trade in agricultural commodities such as coffee, sesame, pulses, and oilseeds. These results have contributed to strengthening agricultural services and systems to improve productivity and thereby increase food security, or access to safe, sufficient and nutritious food, for farmers.

Results achieved as of June 2012 include: 1) Agriculture Technical and Vocational Education Training (ATVET) component – A National Plan for Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education Training (ATVET) colleges developed and disseminated; four ATVET colleges provided with furnishings and material for offices, classrooms and libraries; two ATVET colleges successfully implementing strategic plans, contributing to improved learning environments; revised occupational standards and curriculum for 56 subjects developed based on the national plan. 2) Agriculture Extension – Enhanced effectiveness of agricultural extension services through the adoption of new technologies and practices among farming households; 16,917 members (3,750 female) are participating in farmer-research-extension groups (FREGs); 22,200 agriculture extension officers (3,048 female) provided with on-the-job training in order to transfer knowledge and skills to farmers (female and male); 2,409 Farmers Training Centres (FTCs) provided with furnishings of which 1,840 are fully functional. 3) Agricultural Research – Enhanced institutional capacity in agricultural research through the funding of 698 proposals under the Farmer Innovation Fund (FIF) to promote innovations amongst farmer groups; 25 improved technologies or practices tested, adapted and scaled up through FREGs; 40 National and 39 Regional high priority agricultural research and development projects awarded; of which 32 National and 39 Regional successfully completed. 4) Information and Communications – 80 out of 136 project districts provided with internet connectivity to facilitate information sharing with regional and federal agriculture offices. 5) Marketing and Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary – (SPS) Improved IT solutions for more effective operation of the Ethiopia Stock Exchange, including provision of an interactive voice response (IVR) and short message service (SMS) system as well as the operationalization of 50 out of a planned 150 electronic tickers in rural areas for dissemination of real time commodity market prices. Enhanced services and functionality of the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange through increased volume of trade in agricultural commodities of coffee, sesame, pulses, and oilseeds.

• Proactive disclosure
• Related activities: Rural Capacity Building Project - Technical Assistance