The AFAAS Virtual Platform is a mobile and web based network for agricultural advisory services agents and other stakeholders to collaborate, solve problems, and pursue new project and business opportunities.

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM
OF
THE AFRICAN FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL
ADVISORY SERVICES (AFAAS)

2. ABOUT THIS PRESENTATION
It presents:
 A summary of what a member can do on the platform;
 An introduction to the main pages & functionalities
therein;
 Screen shots of the main pages bearing brief
descriptions of their features;
 At any stage you can go back to the previous view by
pressing the UP Arrow or speed up the presentation by
pressing the DOWN Arrow.

3. WHAT IS THE AFAAS VIRTUAL
PLATFORM?
 A dynamic & interactive virtual social community made up of
diverse Agricultural Advisory Services (AAS) stakeholders;
 It is primarily intended to promote exchange of information and
sharing experiences among the stakeholders;
 Its intended outcomes are innovations that can improve AAS
in Africa;
 It is open to all individuals and organisations interested in
improving AAS in Africa.

4. WHAT THE AFAAS VIRTUAL PLATFORM CAN
DO
Enable members in the virtual social community to:
• Communicate with each other & connect to others in
different groups & country fora;
• Post questions on the platform via the web or SMS;
• Find solutions to their problems from a wide range of
actors via the web or SMS;
• Create public ‘organisation groups’ and private
‘opportunity spaces’

5. WHAT THE AFAAS VIRTUAL PLATFORM CAN DO
(CONTINUED)
Enable members in the virtual social community to:
 Advertise the services that they and their organizations
can offer;
 Collaborate in finding innovative solutions/approaches for
advisory service-related problems;
 Identify AAS-related business opportunities and develop
them into business plans;
 Get mentors and sponsors/investors for their ideas.

6. HOW IT WORKS

7. A virtual Problem
Solving area
An area for people,
organisations and
groups to create their
own web pages
An area for people
to develop
opportunities into
business plans
An inclusive platform for
various stakeholders in the
AAS field
An area where a
user can get help
on how to use the
platform

8. PROBLEM SOLVING
 Post a question or solution related to any of the different
categories by web or SMS;
 Receive responses through email and SMS notifications;
 Follow a thread of responses.

9. PROBLEM SOLVING (CONTINUED)
 Send questions by SMS:
1. On your mobile phone under the message menu, type in
your question;
2. Send the message to +44 7624 803768
 Send answers/responses by SMS:
1. On your mobile phone under the message menu, enter the
‘SMS Problem ID’, leave a space and enter your response;
2. Send the SMS to +44 7624 803768.

10. Post requests for
information by web or
SMS
Question is posted on the
web & also sent by SMS &
web to registered
“Answerers”
Questions can be
categorized by different
broad fields & topics
All responses are stored on
the platform & over time a
permanent searchable problem
solving knowledge base is
created

11. Other people who want to
know the answer can
indicate their interest &
receive responses
Different people can
respond to a question &
their responses are posted
on the platform & also sent
by SMS
Responses can be made
directly on the web or sent
to the platform by SMS

12. PEOPLE, ORGANISATIONS & GROUPS
 Create personal, organisational and group profiles;
 Connect with other members;
 Follow activities of organisations of interest to you;
 Form and join groups of interest to you.

13. A directory of members A directory of
organisations
A directory of groups
Searchable database of members,
organisations & groups

14. PEOPLE

15. People can describe
themselves
People can describe
the products /services
they offer
The opportunities on the
platform which they are
involved in
Show the questions
they have
contributed to
Upload their picture
Send & receive emails
to/ from other members
Offer their contact
details

16. ORGANISATIONS

17. Show their Logo
Describe themselves
Start & comment
on discussions
One can ask to join the
organisation’s space on
the platform
Give their contact
details
Show activities
they are involved in
on the platform

18. GROUPS

19. Invite members to join
your group
Describe your group
Form a group based
on various subject
areas
Start & comment on
group discussions
Share files

20. OPPORTUNITIES
 Create and develop opportunities in private virtual
spaces;
 Invite others to join your opportunity to collaboratively
develop your ideas through a structured process;
 Attract mentors, partners and investors, and build
support.

21. •Registered members can create
an opportunity
•Problem solving activity can
generate opportunities
Basic information on on-going
opportunities can be viewed on
the platform

22. Activity on the
opportunity continuously
displayed
Opportunity has an administrator who
invites & admits members, &
manages the development of the
opportunity
All members of
an opportunity
are shown
• Brief description of the
opportunity can be viewed by
the public
• Details can be public or
private
Systematic &
guided process for
developing an
idea/ business
plan
Opportunity team
can seek mentor,
sponsor, investor
Option to start &
comment on
discussions

23. SUPPORT

24. Access to tools & guides on
the platformOptions to start
discussions & add
comments
A series of support & ‘How
to’ discussion pages
Access to discussions
Access to interactive
support on how to
work on the platform

25. VISIT:
HTTP://NETWORKING.AFAAS-AFRICA.ORG/