May 26, 2025
Capacity Development Workshops across Member States
A look at the events held and the lessons in common
Over the period September 2024 to March 2025 the modernAKIS project supported capacity development workshops for AKIS coordination bodies in 21 member states. These events aimed at enabling AKIS actors in these countries to better understand and conceptualize valuable, relevant and credible AKIS models. These workshops introduced and emphasised the importance of systems thinking and understanding the AKIS as a complex system that faces complex challenges. The workshops were as diverse as the member states in which they were held, yet still there were common themes throughout.
The majority of countries chose to hold these events in person to better allow actors to become familiar with each other and build relationships where they may not have previously exisited. Indeed seven of these member states all reported that the workshops highlighted the importance of strong relationships between AKIS actors for better knowledge flow. In countires where events were held online, it was because the actors involved already had well establihsed relationships with one another.
Faciliators involved in the modernAKIS project put a great deal of work into adapting the content and format of the workshops so that they were relevant and engaging for actors within their member states. This adaptability allowed for more effective capcity development as the content of the workshops was tailored to the stage of AKIS development in each member state.
A key element of the workshops across all member states was the inclusion of interactive sessions between actors with at least thirteen member states having a dedicated interactive session within the agenda for their events. These sessions received great feedback from attendees who appreciated the opportunity to not only discuss and exchange with each other on the material and concepts presented during the workshops but actively implement them as well. Many member states used these sessions to focus on mapping the AKIS structure in their member state as well as the actors involved and the linkages between them. Conducting such activites allowed AKIS co-ordination bodies to better understand the AKIS in their countries and several member states reported that one of the key outcomes from these mapping exercises was an awareness of the need for better and increased engagement with farmers. Another outcome of these exercises was the development of recommendations for steps that could be taken to begin strengthening the AKIS in their member states.
Overall, these capacity development events were well received and feedback indicated that attendees felt that the information presented was usefull to them and that they would recommend attending such an event to a colleague.
