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Realisation period 2019-2022
Location Songwe Region, Tanzania
Contact Catherine Mulaga
Date
31.12.2022
By
MIICO (Mbeya, Ileje, Isangati Consortia)

Policy Dialogue: Access to extension services for women smallholders

Topic: Policy Dialogue
Policy Dialogue
Human Rights & Civ. Soc.
East Africa
Co-financing

problem & solution

In Tanzania, women make up an important part of smallholder farmers and play a crucial role in ensuring the household's food security. However, they still have limited access to agricultural advisory services provided by the government. Thus their and their families' nutrition is at risk.

The solution was to support different stakeholders and specifically women's groups in undertaking social accountability monitoring and strengthen their capacity to advocate for the provision of quality extension services that meet the needs of female farmers.

the experience

After creating a shared understanding of the project's objectives and the roles and responsibilities of the involved stakeholders, four main steps were undertaken to implement the envisioned solution:

  1. creating a women smallholder farmers’ forum consisting of representatives from different women's groups
  2. training those representatives in social accountability monitoring and in collective, evidence based advocacy
  3. facilitating a budget analysis and a community scorecard process
  4. conducting dialogue meetings with duty bearers and service providers during which the women representatives present the identified issues for discussions and advocate in their interest

Challenges

  • limited availability and access to adequate and quality extension services lowers production and productivity
  • inadequate funds to facilitate improvement of the working environment and quality of extension staff in the past

Impact

  • increased district agriculture budget with inclusiveness of women issues
  • service providers take action on women extension priorities
  • women forum capacities improved
  • women engage at district level and take part in consultation meetings
  • proper process entry makes effective and efficient implementation leading to success

Lessons Learned

  • strong engagement of and collaboration between stakeholders is key for discussions, reflections and effective implementation
  • promote community led advocacy
  • dialogue meetings to be owned and conducted by stakeholders themselves instead of NGOs

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