New voice for rural advisory services

The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), launched today by Agridea, aims to provide the rural advisory sector with a proactive and credible structure.

GFRAS is a forum for advocacy and leadership on pluralistic, demand-driven rural advisory services. GFRAS does this in the context of the global development agenda to promote sustainable growth and reducing poverty.

Stakeholders worldwide in the rural advisory sector have expressed demand for a dynamic, proactive, and formal structure to assure a credible and clear voice for RAS.

GFRAS’ objectives

• Provide a voice for RAS within global policy dialogues by convening, mobilising, energising, and harmonising RAS within the broader agricultural development arena
• Support the development and synthesis of evidence-based approaches and policies for improving the effectiveness of RAS
• Facilitate interaction and networking for institutional and individual capacity strengthening in RAS
• Promote the creation of an enabling environment for investment in RAS

For starters GFRAS will engage with a wide range of stakeholders, set and validate the long-term agenda, and strategically orient the forum within the international agricultural development and rural advisory services community. By June 2011, a five-year operational plan and funding will be in place.

GFRAS has an open structure with no formal membership. It is governed by a steering committee and managed by a secretariat. The forum is currently hosted by Agridea, the Swiss Association for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas, in Lindau, Switzerland. It is supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the European Commission (EC), and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

For more information, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit GFRAS’ website

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