Global Farmer Field School Platform

FFS Networks

FFS networks composed of FFS practitioners are active at global, regional, sub-regional and country levels, closely linked to FAO Regional, Sub-regional and Country Offices, and HQ Technical Units. The FFS networks, largely informal, play an important role, in better coordinating FFS activities among countries and between regions. They aim to exchange information, innovations and FFS resource materials; develop a common understanding on good quality FFS programs; provide technical support among countries including exchanges of Master Trainers and identify opportunities for joined trainings. They are also involved in policy advocacy for FFS. These networks contributed to the Guidance Document for Good Quality FFS programs, and will promote the Guidance Document in their areas and help develop local adapted versions of this important tool.

FFS Networks and South-South cooperation

In 1995, the first African FFS training took place in Ghana, with participants from Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, facilitated by Master Trainers from the Philippines. When a country starts to work first on FFS experienced FFS Master Trainers brought in from other countries are crucial to develop a local capacity. 

Sharing the experience of the programme and lessons learned through south-south cooperation is an effective manner to support countries facing similar problems and to ensure both quality and sustainability of emerging FFS programmes.

Many experienced FFS practitioners (master trainers, facilitators and project management staff) are part of informal or more formal networks at local or regional level. This is the basis to promote and sustain the FFS practices at different levels, including developing more formalized regional and global technical networks.