Ethiopia's Digital Agriculture

Extension and Advisory Services

(DAEAS) Roadmap 2030
Digital Agriculture Roadmaps - A step towards Digital agriculture
transformational journey: Learnings from Ethiopia

29 SEPTEMBER 2022
 The current Ethiopian DAEAS landscape faces a set of
structural bottlenecks
Institutions Documents (IT) Systems

DAEAS System Process Map & Key Issues

Radio, Voice / SMS
Centralized Ext. Directorate Regional BoAs
Research outputs database Private
Ext. Extension
TBD Training
Strategy Packages ATVETs Provider
(B-learning)
Advice &
Extension
Other data bases Ext. Curriculum Training Training
Service
(ETH, int‘l)
Research institutes DA Zone /
Farm
Extension B-Learning System
Learning Mgm’t System Woreda Video
NGO, etc. Methodology (tablets etc.)
BoA

1 Data & Knowledge 2 Content & Training 3 Delivery framework 4 User/Client Access
▪ in enabling framework for E abling Environments ▪ Limited visibility on end-user
▪ Limited awareness of gaps in coordinated content development ▪ Limited collaboration of development and
available data & knowledge interaction & adoption
▪ Untargeted extension & advisory delivery
▪ Limited data sharing collaboration ▪ Limited feedback input from end
services ▪ Lower engagement from DAEAS
▪ Policy gaps for data sharing & stakeholders users
▪ Unclear, ad-hoc, and long approval ▪ Unclear feedback mechanism from
access process for finalized content ▪ Few precedents for engaging the private
▪ Gaps in infrastructure and sector SHFs up the value chain
▪ Narrow understanding of the
capacity ▪ Long development cycles are slow to
effectiveness of different channels incorporate new best practices
Infrastructure
5 Agri-Services
▪ High cost of connectivity and hardware ▪ ed guidance on DAEAS inputs
limits access to DAEAS for agri-service providers
▪ Limited collaboration in relevant areas with ▪ Lower DAEAS adoption due to
other sectors limited input access
1
Despite commitment and progress, challenges remain
in Ethiopia for digital agricultural advisory services

DAEAS CURRENT STATUS

ECOSYSTEM

• Local solutions – Few ag-tech products with limited private sector participation
Solutions • Incubators – Limited number of ag-tech start-ups as output from existing incubators
Pipeline
• Data and analytics – Valuable data sets available, however fragmented
Digital Stack approach with gaps remaining in reusable datasets and data analytics skills
• Hardware and connectivity – Despite progress, challenges remain in cost and quality

• Governance and policy – Gaps to be addressed to enable a thriving DAEAS ecosystem

Enabling Environment • Human capital – Underdeveloped skill sets across SHFs, DAs, and in the public sector
• Business environment – Challenging to access financial services and markets

2
In Sept 2021, the National DAEAS Forum was convened to
kick off the DAEAS 2030 Roadmap works
Objective
Purpos To set prioritized goals for the DAEAS system in Ethiopia for 2030 that align with existing national strategies for
agriculture, agricultural extension, and digital transformation, and identify key initiatives that stakeholders can
collaborate on to accomplish the 2030 DAEAS goals
Scope
Provide a strategy and implementation plan for creating digital solutions to key constraints in the agricultural extension
and advisory services system

2008 Completed work Future planned work

▪ Bill and Melinda
Agricultural Gates
Development Late Sep – Mid Foundation
Partners’ ▪ Steering Nov 2021 (BMGF) to hire

Linkage Committee DAEAS consultants Aug 2022 –

Advisory organizations: Roadmap (BCG) to support 2025/26
Council MoA, ATA, DG, workshop and refinement of Roadma
(ADPLAC) GIZ, PxD, SSA [1] drafting the roadmap p
enhance linkage National followed by 3- July 2022 Phase
Assessment and 2030
and collaboration DAEAS Forum week validation Roadmap Phase II design Roadmap
▪ Created to Early Sep 2021 Feb 2022 – 2025/26 –
▪ 10-day workshop ▪ End of Phase I:
▪ Streamlined workshop Forum, Int’l
among potential and drafting incl. a refinement, Phase II 3
partners 3-day validation Stakeholder
Note: (1) For organizations not previously defined: Digital Green (DG); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ); Precision Development (PxD), and Sasakawa Africa Association (SSA).

various initiatives
Convening
In order to address the existing bottlenecks, the DAEAS
roadmap sets an ambitious vision for 2030
Vision: A productive, inclusive and sustainable agri-food system through the
collaborative delivery of customized digital services to all farmers in Ethiopia
Productive To contribute to improved productivity and livelihood of farmers (cf. national targets)

Inclusive To be inclusive of underserved segments (e.g., women, youth, pastoralists)

Sustainable To improve farmers climate adaptation and resilience

Collaborative To create a coordinated and pluralistic extension ecosystem

Customized To tailor advisory services to farmer profile (e.g., size, location)

All farmers To reach as many farmers as possible

4
The roadmap is structured across three main dimensions

DAEAS ROADMAP

Solutions pipeline
Accelerate development of digital innovations for priority farmer use cases

Digital Stack
Develop necessary digital elements to support product development and utilization
(hardware and connectivity, database, analytics …)

Enabling Environment
Develop policies, human capital and private sector to enable digitalization of the sector

5
 … containing 30 actions across 6
Highest priority within roadmap
I Solutions Pipeline
Partner with Mobile Network Support market entry of
3
•1 Competitive incubation / product 2
Operator (MNO) to create a international products into Ethiopia
Solutions dev. farmer facing DAEAS (in partnership with local players)
Pipeline environment with forum

II Hardware and Connectivity III Data and analytics

•4 Device access for extension workers (DAs, woreda 1
Farmer profiles and unique ID
experts) • Input demand & supply tracking
1
•5 Free access for DAs to key apps 1 Integrated ag. data access point (decentralized data hub)
•6 Phone payment plan for farmers • Data sharing incentives
•7 Free access for farmers to key apps 2
1
Ag. data quality standards and assurance system
Digital Stack •8 Telco service targets and incentives for rural areas
•
•8 Off-grid electricity access expansion in rural areas 3
1
1•0 Internet kiosk at FTC run by women/youth groups
•
4
1

•
5

IV Governance and Policy V Human Capital VI Business Environment

•6
1 Fast-track pluralistic extension and ag. •2 Digital training platform for DAs •27 Digitize payments at rural service points
0

data sharing policies ratification •2 •22 Digital skills at ATVETs

•7
1 DAEAS National Forum linked to PMO 1
Improve DA management
6
 … containing 30 actions across 6
•28 Scale warehouse receipt financing Digital contract farming platform
•29
1 Streamline content approval process •2 Financial and digital literacy for farmers •30 Support innovative digital
Enabling • Working space and targeted training for 3 Expand dig. capacity MoA extension team finance products targeting
Environment
8
1
ag techs • MoA & EIAR ICT human capacity building
2
farmers
•
4
Digital training platform for MoA/BoA
9 •2
5

•2
6

7
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and Competitive funding and incubation support

recommendations 1 Establish competitive development environment (with funding) to incubate and

commercialize
DAEAS innovative products for prioritized farmer use cases. Key activities
include:
• Set up a dedicated team to oversee the competitive funding process, linked to DAEAS forum
• Partner with incubators, both local and international, to provide technical support to startups
• Partner with donors for funding and technical support

MNO-led DAEAS products

2 Partner with MNOs to create farmer-facing DAEAS products. Key activities include:
• Secure agreement with MNOs to provide to develop/adapt a farmer-facing product
Pillar 1: Solutions • Follow through ideation, MVP, and product launch process, resolving roadblocks

Pipeline Champion
the
development of digital Int'l DAEAS products market entry
innovations for priority
farmer use-cases 3
Support market entry of existing international private sector products into Ethiopia
in partnership with local players. Key activities include:
• Streamline set-up process and requirements for int'l players
• Dedicate a resource to support companies with process
• Provide (selected) incentives for int's DAEAS players working in partnerships with local firms

8
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and Hardware and connectivity access for extension workers

recommendations 4 Provide extension workers with access to

digital devices. Key activities include:
5 Make key DA services free for DAs.
Key activities include:
• Distribute existing tablets to enable
• Secure agreement with MNOs
prioritized use cases (AgMIS, ACCD)
to provide key data free
• Expand access to device to more DAs,
services for DAs
woreda, and zone extension workers
• Ongoing device management (user
support, maintenance, replacements)
Hardware and connectivity access for farmers
6 Offer installment payment plans for 7 Make key farmer-facing apps free
farmers to purchase phones for farmers. Key activities include:
• Partner with phone manufacturers • Secure agreement with MNOs to
Pillar 2: and MNOs to offer discounted provide key data free services for
payment plans for farmers farmers
Hardware and
Rural connectivity improvement
Connectivity Develop
a reliable and inclusive 8 Monitor targets & set incentives for 9 Expand off-grid electricity access in rural areas
hardware and better rural connectivity. Coordinated by • Map supply and demand for off-grid
ECA:
• Monitor agreed service targets energy
expansion (supply options, demand size)
connectivity access • Provide result-based incentives and • Find partners to supply off-grid energy
support for rural areas (e.g., PPP) solutions, with initial focus on DAs
10 Set up internet kiosks at woreda office/FTC –
run sustainably by youth/women groups
• Identify FTCs with limited connectivity reach
and equip with internet facility (laptops, …)
• Work with youth/women groups to maintain 8
internet kiosk service and run as a business
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and Create reusable datasets

recommendations 11 Accelerate farmer profiles creation

• Define standardized data fields,
12 Introduce digital input demand
and supply tracking for DAEAS
configure access and integration with • Track input demand and purchase
other data (building on existing work) from private system1
• Partner with DAEAS solutions to pilot • Work with EABC2 to digitize gov't
use cases based on farmer profiles input supply system
• Train DAs and launch full-scale • Make input tracking data available
farmers profiling to DAEAS providers

Foster data sharing

13 Set up an integrated agricultural data 14 Provide data sharing incentives
Pillar 3: access point (decentralized data
hub)
• Design and set up data sharing
incentives (e.g., recognition, access
Data and Analytics (linked to ATI data hub, EIAR, and MoA data) others' data, monetize data)
• Audit datasets at diff. institutions
Make key data assets • Set up IT architecture and access
accessible, interoperable, protocols for interoperable access (not
necessarily physically in same spot)
and available in real-time • Restructure and integrate target
datasets to support priority use cases

Improve data quality

15 Introduce standards and systems for agricultural data quality

• Set data quality standards and monitoring mechanisms
• Assess data quality gaps and resolve for selected use cases
• Encourage software tool dev. to automate monitoring of quality

1. As part of farmers' profiles 2. Ethiopia Agricultural Business Corporation 9

 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and Policy development

recommendations 16 Fast track pluralistic extension policy & agricultural data sharing directive approval
• Fast-track draft and ratification of pluralistic extension policy
• Collaborate with MInT to revise, socialize and ratify national open data sharing policy
• Collaborate with MInT fast track ratification of national data sharing directive
• Develop and ratify agriculture data sharing guideline (based on national data sharing policy)

Cross-sector coordination
17 Facilitate bi-annual action-oriented DAEAS forum (linked to ADPLAC)
• Strengthen the existing DAEAS forum by revising its working system and structure to
be an action-oriented forum
Pillar 4: • Facilitate DAEAS forum every 6 months to review roadmap progress, coordination
between public and private stakeholders, and required changes to roadmap
Policy and Governance
Build a robust and Streamline processes for DAEAS providers
consistent regulatory Streamline DAEAS advisory content Provide working space and targeted training
18 19
and oversight framework quality control mechanism to encourage to agri-techs
DAEAS service providers • Facilitate low-cost working space in ICT
• Develop a simpler content approval park
process for gov't advisory services • Provide targeted training for agri-techs
• Require DAEAS innovators to to address gaps (e.g., business training)
integrate farmers feedback • Provide procedural related support for
collection / rating as part of product agri-techs (cf. registration, patenting)
offering to ensure content quality

10
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and DA upskilling and support

recommendations 20 Digital DA training platform with offline access

• Develop and deliver digital and interactive training modules for DAs to improve their agronomy
and digital skills (tiered training levels based on DA profiles, delivered on tablets)
• Deliver complementary in-person training for DAs with no access to devices

21 Digital skills training at ATVETs

• Support ATVETs to revise curriculum to include digital skills training and evaluation based on
framework provided by MoSHE1 and MInT2, and implemented by MoLS3

22 Improve DA management system for improved DA effectiveness

Pillar 5: Human • Complete ongoing DA profiling at MoA (enable annual performance review and DA management)
• In close coordination with BoAs at regional, zone and woreda offices, revise DA job description to
Capital Prioritize and focus on advisory service delivery and design new DAs management system – leading to digital
reporting and process for measuring effectiveness
invest in • Introduce non-cash performance-based incentives (e.g., awards, phones as gifts, …)
human capacity building
across the digital ag Farmers upskilling
ecosystem (1/2)
23 Train farmers on digital & financial literacy (content tailored to farmer skill levels and access
channels)
• Identify key financial/digital literacy gaps and training channels for farmers
• Forge partnerships with NGOs, donors, MNOs, TV and radio stations to develop and deliver
farmer training modules tailored for different farmer skill levels and delivery channels

1. Ministry of Science and Higher Education; 2. Ministry of Innovation and Technology; 3. Ministry of Labor and Skills 11
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and MoA/BoA staff and professionals upskilling

recommendations
Expand capacity of MoA digital extension
team
24
• Refine digital extension team role and functions for DAEAS roadmap
• Hire targeted personnel to capacitate digital extension team
• Transfer skills and responsibilities to permanent FTEs within MoA structure

MoA ICT directorate human capacity building

25
• Expand capacity of ICT directorate to manage DAEAS roadmap and other digital initiatives
• Hire international IT experts to operate system and transfer skills to local FTEs in a BOT
Pillar 5: Human model (Build-Operate-Transfer)

Capital Prioritize and

invest in
human capacity building
across the digital ag Digital training platform for MoA and BoA staff at regional, zone and woreda offices
26
ecosystem (2/2) • Assess skills gap at MoA and BoAs for specific tasks need to oversee DAEAS roadmap
(e.g., project management, learning design, …)
• Develop / adapt digital training tool and learning modules for different topics
• Introduce certifications and gamify achievements to ensure training uptake and impact
12
 x Initiative number

Roadmap actions and Digital payment options

recommendations 27 Support digitizing payments at rural service points (e.g., village kiosks, consumer
coops)
• Catalyze digital payments in rural woreda's by partnering with MNOs to expand
merchants / agent networks and CICO1 points in selected woredas

Input/output market access

Digitally scale warehouse receipt Support a digital contract farming
28 29
financing system platform
• Revise current warehouse financing for B2F linkages
model for decentralized digital scale-up • Work with a consortium of large buyers
Pillar 6: Business • Partner with FIs, agri-techs and donors (incl. IAIP2 processors) to develop
digital platform(s) for contract farming
to digitally link farmers with warehouse
Environment Create an services (run by youth/women groups) • Support partners with B2F linkages
enablers (e.g., provide 'farming as a
open, reliable, business' training to farmers, integrate
and digital business and scale e-voucher system)

environment Access to digital finance targeting farmers

30 Support digital micro credit and insurance solutions targeting rural farmers
• Forge partnerships with FIs (NBE, Bankers Ass. , Insurers Ass. & others) to introduce and promote
digital financial service platforms for farmers
• Use existing platforms to enhance access to financial services for SHFs and farmer organizations

1. Cash-in and cash out; 2. Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks 13

The roadmap is co-chaired by Ministry of Agriculture and
ATI, with Project Management Office (PMO) led by ATI
MEETING CADENCE AND ROLES
DAEAS Forum meets two times per year to connect
DAEAS Forum linked to ADPLAC
(Co-haired by MoA Ext. Directorate and ATI) broad group of DAEAS stakeholders in Ethiopia
DAEAS Steering Committee meets every month to
DAEAS Steering Committee provide strategic decision making, make investment
(Co-chaired by MoA Ext. Directorate and ATI) decisions, enable collaboration across all stakeholders
Core Team meets one week prior to each SteerCo,
DAEAS Core Team
working as advisory group and consulted for expert input

DAEAS PMO is a dedicated team to monitor execution of

roadmap activities, resolve or escalate issues (as needed),
DAEAS PMO
update roadmap annually, report progress to SteerCo &
meet in advance with Core Team.

Action #1 - Project Executing Partner #1

Project Executing Partners carry out implementation of
Action #2 - Project Executing Partner #2
specific roadmap initiatives and report progress on
Action #3 - Project Executing Partner #3 activities and KPIs to PMO
…
14
 The priorities for the short term (1st 6 months) are resource
mobilization and PMO setup
Today
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
01. 08. 15. 22. 29. 05. 12. 19. 26. 03. 10. 17. 24. 31. 07. 14. 21. 28. 05. 12. 19. 26. Lead
Resource Mobilization
• Run 1-on-1 sessions with prospective partners ATI Partnership

• Run joint session with those that showed interest ATI Partnership

• Follow-up and secure commitments ATI Partnership

Implementation follow-up
• Align on complex action items requiring PMO
detailed planning
• Conduct studies and develop concrete PMO &
plans Core team

• Follow-up implementation PMO

PMO Setup
• Validate final roadmap with RBoAs MoA Extension
• Recruit PMO Technical Lead (potential secondment) SteerCo
• Run DAEAS routines (Core team, Steerco & Forum) PMO

Key milestones
SteerCo SteerCo SteerCo SteerCo DAEAS Forum
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Thank You

Innovations to help our country grow