Call for authors - draft proposals due August 23

[Andrea Bohn]

Contributions for the Policy Compendium for
Rural Extension and Advisory Services

 

The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) and the Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services (MEAS) project are developing a Rural Extension and Advisory Services Policy Compendium or "Guide" – a one-stop shop for those working on, advocating for, and implementing extension policy. Essentially, this will be a resource to direct decisions and facilitate successful policy processes and outcomes in extension and advisory services. 

The GFRAS Policy Working Group has nominated you as a potential author for the policy compendium based on your role in, knowledge of, and commitment to agricultural extension. Would you consider being a part of this effort?

We are looking for short (maximal 3 pages, single spaced, 12-point Times Roman) write-ups that describe, based on your direct experience or through review of peer reviewed and grey literature, contributions that fall under four categories:

Purposes and objectives of an extension policy 

-       Characteristics and content of extension policies, why are RAS policies important? (This is indented as an introductory, editorial piece for the compendium)

How to influence policy (advocacy and dialog on policy reform and action)?

-          Where are strategic and promising entry points for RAS providers to influence policy planning, development, implementation and adaption? How is this best done?

-          What type of information and evidence do policy makers need? How does this have to be presented for policy makers to consider it?

How to develop extension policies

-          What are useful tools/approaches to develop context-related goals, aims, and expected outcomes?

-          How can the compliance of the target stakeholders be ensured from the beginning on?

-          How can the key stakeholders and audiences be identified and then engaged in the process of developing policy?

-          What should determine the geographic reach of what types of policies?

How to implement extension policy 

-          What are the main steps and milestones and which stakeholders need to do what?

-          What are the main challenges for RAS providers to implement RAS policies?

-          How can RAS policy be translated in the field in order to strengthen rural advisory services providers?

-          How can policy implementation be monitored and evaluated?

-          What should be taken into account for estimating the costs of policy implementation?

Procedure

 

Task	Due date
Notify your interest, inform about planned content of the contribution and send draft outline	23 August 2014
Selection of inputs and confirmation of authors by the selection committee[1]	30 August 2014
Elaborate draft article, including a max. 100 word description of your piece that contains keywords and subject areas that may help future users determine how to best utilize the resource	15 September 2014
Validation of draft articles at a side event at the 5th GFRAS Annual Meeting in Buenos Aires	26 September 2014
Finalisation of articles accepted at the side event (based on recommendations from participants)	30 October 2014

 

Please note that only quality articles will be accepted. The authors whose articles become part of the compendium will be paid an honorarium of USD 750 upon acceptance of the finalized article.

 

For any questions please contact Natalie Ernst (natali...@g-fras.org) and Katy Heinz (katy....@gmail.com).

Kind regards,

Kristin Davis                                                                Dr. Paul McNamara

GFRAS Executive Secretary                                            MEAS

 

---

[1] The selection committee consists of 2 representatives from the GFRAS secretariat, 1 representative from MEAS and 1 additional representative from the GFRAS policy working group