Overview

FAO’s Communication for Development (ComDev) team, based in the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU), acts as the Organization’s technical focal point, providing ComDev assistance to institutions, family farmers, producer organizations, Indigenous Peoples, FAO programmes, projects and partners. Learn more about the FAO ComDev approach and areas of work here.

ComDev at FAO works in three main areas: rural communication services, capacity development and engagement and awareness raising. 

a. Rural communication services  

Rural communication services (RCS) include a wide range of demand-led communication processes, activities, media applications and institutional arrangements that respond to the communication needs of family farmers and rural populations in a sustained and inclusive manner. With a view to advancing and institutionalizing RCS, the FAO ComDev team supports: 
- technical assistance in the design and implementation of ComDev strategies and plans; 
- evidence generation and dialogue on RCS through studies, experience capitalization, knowledge sharing and multistakeholder consultations. 

b. Capacity development in ComDev, ICTs and knowledge sharing 

Capacity development activities focus on: the design of ComDev methods and tools; support for the use and appropriation of media and digital tools (e.g. participatory video, rural radio, low cost information and communication technologies); and experience capitalization. Resources are available in the Learning section. 

c. Engagement and awareness raising: ComDev initiatives 

Three regional ComDev initiatives — ComDev Asia, YenKasa Africa and Onda Rural — promote multistakeholder engagement and implement awareness-raising activities (such as the Rural Radio Initiative) in connection with the UN Decade of Family Farming (UNDFF). At the same time, the Collaborative Change Communication (CCComDev) initiative provides a global hub that promotes inclusive rural communication services.