Knowledge management department

Overview

Smallholder farmers in Eastern Africa like elsewhere in the developing world require up to date knowledge and information in order to effectively and efficiently perform their farming practices. Currently the knowledge and information farmers need is available but not easily accessible to them. This knowledge is scattered all over in different locations due to existing weak agriculture knowledge and learning system. There is currently no functional extension services and vocational training institutions for farmers. National Farmers Organizations present in the different countries where EAFF operates are therefore trying to bridge this gap.

Strategy

As per EAFF’s strategic plan, specifically in the strategic thrust 2, EAFF wants to become '' A Functional and Effective Knowledge Hub for Farmer Development''. That is an effective knowledge hub that is one stop network on partnering, networking and knowledge sharing.This can thus be achieved through the adoption and implementation of a strategy that helps integrate knowledge management in the systems of operations in EAFF and her membership.

The overall objective of the strategy is to support the integration of an efficient knowledge sharing and learning systems for the development of an effective knowledge hub.

The strategy seeks to put in place processes and mechanisms as per KM core functions of: 1) generating and storing, 2)dissemination and 3) use of knowledge and information. Therefore, specifically:

1. To develop strong knowledge management systems and sharing mechanisms that facilitate the generation and flow of knowledge and information from EAFF to members;
2. To generate, document and disseminate knowledge products in thematic areas and document best practices/innovations;
3. To Support EAFF's membership learning for improvement(about knowledge management and institutional development).

Implementation

To be able tackle the complex task of knowledge management, EAFF developed a mechanism for enhancing and managing knowledge and information sharing across EAFF and her membership. The tool forms a regional mechanism that is the platform where EAFF and members are able to share knowledge, information and experiences especially on the thematic areas of the new EAFF strategic orientation 2012-2020. These are KM, policy, economic services and institutional development. It serves a basis for exchange of lessons and mentorship platform for younger and weaker FOs to be assisted by stronger ones in these respective thematic.

We also developed a learning system as a culmination of experiences from different EAFF member organizations and it is hinged on the four pillars of the “magic triangle” and it is in the form of a loop where performance improves over time as a result of integrating learning and adaptation through a package of internal organizational systems of information management; communication, learning, M&E and innovation and experimentation.

We have know a resource centre and an automated library system (ALS.) The resource centres provides an opportunity for EAFF and members to showcase their work and publications for sharing within the EAFF network as well as to other agriculture stakeholders.

For more on EAFF knowledge work, please visit library.eaffu.org, the strategy and different knowledge products developed