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

INTRODUCTION TO THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM
OF
THE AFRICAN FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL
ADVISORY SERVICES (AFAAS)
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.
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.
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’
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.
HOW IT WORKS
A virtual Problem
Solving area An inclusive platform for
various stakeholders in the
AAS field
An area for people,
An area for people
organisations and
to develop
groups to create their
opportunities into
own web pages
An area where a
business plans
user can get help
on how to use the
platform
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.
PROBLEM SOLVING (CONTINUED)

Send questions by SMS:
1.
2.

On your mobile phone under the message menu, type in
your question;
Send the message to +44 7624 803768
Send answers/responses by SMS:
1.
2.
On your mobile phone under the message menu, enter
the ‘SMS Problem ID’, leave a space and enter your
response;
Send the SMS to +44 7624 803768.
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
Different people can
respond to a question &
their responses are posted
on the platform & also
sent by SMS
Other people who want to
know the answer can
indicate
theircan
interest
&
Responses
be made
receive
directly
onresponses
the web or sent
to the platform by SMS
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.
A directory of
members
A directory of
organisations
A directory of groups
Searchable database of members,
organisations & groups
PEOPLE
People can describe
themselves
People can describe
the products
/services they offer
The opportunities on
the platform which
they are involved in
Upload their picture
Show the questions
have
Send & receive they
emails
Offer their contact
members to
details to/ from other contributed
ORGANISATIONS
Show their Logo
Describe themselves
Start &
comment on
discussions
Show activities
they are involved
in on the platform
Give
their
One
can
askcontact
to join the
details space on
organisation’s
the platform
GROUPS
Share files
Invite members to
join your group
Describe your group
Start & comment on
group discussions
Form a group based
on various subject
areas
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.
•Registered members can create
an opportunity
•Problem solving activity can
generate opportunities
Basic information on on-going
opportunities can be viewed on
the platform
• Brief description of the
Activity Systematic
on the
&
opportunity can be viewed by
opportunity
guided process for
the public
continuouslydeveloping
displayed an
• Details can be public or
idea/ business
private
plan
Option to start
& comment on
All
members of
discussions
Opportunity team
an opportunity
can seek mentor,
are shown
sponsor, investor
Opportunity has an administrator
who invites & admits members, &
manages the development of the
opportunity
SUPPORT
Options to start
discussions & add
comments
Access to interactive
support on how to
work
onto
the
platform
Access
tools
& guides on
the platform
Access to discussions A series of support &
‘How to’ discussion pages
VISIT:
HTTP://NETWORKING.AFAAS-AFRICA.ORG/