Solution to ICT and agriculture development woes

The use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed many aspects of international development over the past 30 years by increasing access to information, expanding networks, and improving efficiency. Coupled with the growing prevalence of connectivity in even the most remote communities, it is no surprise that ICTs are now becoming an important part of many agriculture and rural development projects. This trend will continue to accelerate as the African mobile phone ownership approaches 100 percent by 2020.

Yet despite their potential, successful interventions using ICT are often elusive. Effectively incorporating ICT tools to achieve development goals requires careful planning and execution. This process can be challenging for projects and field-based staff, especially given the speed at which ICTs are evolving. 

The USAID-funded Fostering Agriculture Competitiveness Employing Information Communication Technologies (FACET) project addresses these challenges by providing free short-term technical assistance to USAID missions and implementing partners in sub-Saharan Africa interested in using ICTs in their agriculture development or food security projects. FACET provides targeted expertise to help with strategic planning, market research studies, assessments, and technical workshops.

FACET is currently accepting new requests for technical assistance. To find out if your Mission or USAID project is eligible, please contact the FACET team at FHI 360: jzoltner@fhi360.org and jwoodard@fhi360.org.

• Sub-Saharan Africa
• FIELD-Support
• Mobile Financial Services
• Microenterprise Development
• Private Sector Development
• Technology
• Rural
• Design
• Implementation
• Planning
• Commercial Bank
• Community banks
• MFI
• Small Banks
• Financial service providers
• NGO
• FACET
• Emerging Payment Systems
• Financial Inclusion
• Food Security
• Rural and Agricultural Finance
• Value Chain Development