October 23, 2023 saw the official launch of the Digital Knowledge Platform of theKnowledge Center for Organic Agriculture (CCAB) digital knowledge platform was officially launched at a networking meeting attended by the 17 African member countries.
Featuring two components: the Database, for uploading and downloading knowledge products, and the Multiplier Network, for networking the project’s multipliers, the Digital Knowledge platform is, according to the experts, an essential tool for promoting, developing and popularizing organic farming and agroecology in Africa and the rest of the world. It’s also a way for players in these fast-growing sectors to share experiences.
This tool at the service of organic farming and agroecology is open to players and practitioners of organic farming and agroecology at the following address http://www.kcoa-africa.org aims to expand the adoption of organic and agroecological farming practices through a network of five knowledge hubs in Africa, including East Africa, Southern Africa, West Africa, North Africa and Central Africa. Within the CCAB, the implementing organizations have three main objectives: to improve access to knowledge about organic agriculture and agroecology; to build the technical and professional capacities of multipliers; and to foster networking and strengthen relationships in the sector across the continent.
What is a Multiplier?
Multipliers in the CCAB context are people, institutions and organizations that enable and amplify the dissemination and application of products
information or knowledge about organic farming and agroecology. More typically, multipliers disseminate knowledge in line with the principles of organic farming as defined by IFOAM. They do this by compiling biological and agro-ecological knowledge, collected and developed with their communities and according to local needs.
Who can be a Multiplier?
Multipliers can include actors and decision-makers from civil society, the private sector and government structures, such as rural service providers (RSPs), innovators (youth, women and men), innovative farms, model farmers, trainers, extension agents, opinion leaders, champions, policy-makers; development partners, organizations and entrepreneurs/private sector actors/value chain operators, who provide organic and agroecological agriculture/processing/marketing services to farms and other actors along value chains, organic and agroecological agriculture training and education initiatives/institutes, farmers’ organizations, community-serving NGOs (including faith-based organizations), consumer organizations and many others.
The establishment of the CCAB platform will help to disseminate the practice in all areas of intervention in Africa.
Marguerite MOMHA, Communication Inades-Formation Cameroon
