RCS: Technical assistance and evidence based solutions
Communication is key to structural transformation in rural areas. The Communication for Development approach helps to achieve development goals and engage stakeholders and must be appropriately integrated into development projects and programmes. The FAO ComDev team assists institutions, farmer organizations, FAO programmes and partners in the design and implementation of ComDev strategies and plans involving the use of communication processes, local media and ICTs. FAO ComDev also collaborates with various players to scale up and institutionalize inclusive rural communication services (RCS) as part of agriculture and rural development policies and programmes. Activities include regional and global fora and studies on RCS trends and appropriation, benefiting farmer organizations, Indigenous Peoples, youth and rural institutions.
Below are a few examples of the technical assistance provided in different fields by FAO ComDev.
Communication and sustainable agriculture (Costa Rica)
Effective communication is vital to promote sustainable agricultural practices and stakeholder engagement. In Costa Rica, assistance is provided to the National Plan for Family Farming through a full fledged ComDev strategy in collaboration with the Costa Rican Family Farming Network (Redcaf) and the Union of Small Agricultural Producers of Costa Rica (UPANACIONAL). The combined use of low-cost digital technologies, participatory video and farmer-led advice facilitates knowledge sharing and the adoption of good practices for soil re-carbonization and agroecology.
Forest and Farm Facility Initiatives (Vietnam)
Distance learning via radio for rural communities (Somalia)
In Somalia, support is provided for distance learning via radio for rural communities. Series of programmes are produced and broadcast in Somalia's two main languages, Maaxa Tiri and Maay, providing critical information about agriculture and nutrition to over 750,000 weekly listeners, or 190,000 households.
Digital Villages (Uzbekistan)
Advancing inclusive RCS
FAO ComDev supports the design and implementation of inclusive rural communication services for smallholders in countries such as Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nicaragua, the Philippines, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uruguay, among others. Special efforts are also made to promote the institutionalization of inclusive RCS through multistakeholder policy dialogue and evidence-based approaches. As a result of these efforts, a series of activities and resources are now available:
- Fora and reports: Online and facetoface consultations and fora on farmer-centred RCS for sustainable agrifood systems are being held as part of the UNDFF. Reports of these events are available at FAO ComDev publications.
- RCS trends and experiences: A series of studies on the role of RCS in rural transformation is promoted in collaboration with academia and research institutions such as the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR). Studies on RCS trends are available at FAO ComDev publications.
- Collaborative Change Communication global hub: Through the Collaborative Change Communication (CCComDev) global hub and in partnership with the College of Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), FAO ComDev promotes applied research and capacity development in RCS. This collaboration also includes a special award that is granted as part of the IAMCR annual conference (see IAMCR 2024) for innovative studies on the application of RCS in agriculture, natural resource management, climate adaptation and rural transformation.