Institutional ComDev Efforts: The case of RCs for Agricultural Development in

Bangladesh

UP Los BañosPhilippines

EXPERIENCE

EVIDENCE

• Improved institutional and local capacities in the design and implementation of communication strategies and plans on food security and climate change adaptation (e..g, strategic communication plan on management of saline-tolerant rice variety)

• Initial establishment of RCS based on the use of CRR and complementary communication materials

• Strengthened linkages among agricultural extension, research institutions, information services, NGOs, and farmers

• Recommendations for upscaling and sustainability of RCS services and activities

CONSTRAINTS & NEEDS

Constraints • Abstractness of RCS at start of project• Institutional culture (deputization of MoA staff)• Political nature of institutions (fast turn-over of leadership)

Needs• Continued use of communication as a means to initiate policy of making RCS as the

national communication strategy for agricultural development and to integrate RCS as organic part of the MoA

• Continued capacity building and mentoring on ComDev and RCS for strengthened institutional capacity and trained manpower

• Revival of RCS web platform to network RCS institutional members, to share knowledge, and to exchange information to concretize RCS operations

• Emphasis on pooling strategy or resource sharing through RCS