Rationale

The FTC is a mechanism for strengthening the capacity of extension service providers in support of CAADP and FAAP.  The Secretariat hosts the FTC coordinator.  AFAAS is a regional platform for national agricultural advisory service providers which facilitates their interaction and strengthens their capacity to discharge their mandates effectively and efficiently.  A first initiative of the FTC is to facilitate the establishment and strengthening of AFAAS.  The Secretariat is currently negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with AFAAS which spells out the contribution of AFAAS to the objective and outputs of NSF 2.

Objective of FTC and AFAAS

The FTC and AFAAS aim to:·        

• Promote the networking and sharing of materials, information, knowledge and skills concerned with agricultural advisory service delivery in support of CAADP and FAAP·        
• Improve the institutionalisation and application of emerging agricultural advisory service innovations·        
• Build the capacity of African professionals and practitioners to participate in, and increasingly to take responsibility for, the design and implementation of agricultural extension programs.  

Exit Strategy for FTC and AFAAS

The FTC and AFAAS are in the early stages of their development (they were initiated in 2007) and for this reason their exit strategies have not yet been formulated.  As the FTC takes shape, the Secretariat is open to transferring its current (June 2008) role to a competent organisation with a stronger comparative advantage for hosting it.