content (to respond to sudden information needs in response for example to particular pest and disease infestations). • When using ICT-enabled channels, use local languages and ensure that the content is developed in a timely manner and is tailored to, and tested for, each ICT channel in use. When considering which ICT channels to use, identify the costs of each, the strengths of each, and how they can complement each other and reinforce extension communication. • During both design and ongoing implementation, consider how best ICT-enabled extension and any existing traditional extension can be synchronised to reinforce messages, build trust and create synergy. Engage with extension agents in the locality, whether they are government, private sector and/or NGO, inform them of the ICT-enabled extension component of the project and build ongoing communication with them. • Ensure that ICT-enabled extension draws on “trusted” voices (e.g. of cooperative leaders, researchers, extension staff, lead farmers) and takes gender into account by carrying out landscape analysis to find out which ICT channels women have access to, using women’s (farmers, broadcasters) voices; and, where female smallholders have limited access to certain ICT channels, draw on community/radio listening clubs. • When bidding to engage in an ICT-enabled extension programme, build in a sustainability plan, particularly if the organisation bidding is an NGO, although sustainability may require long-term ownership by the private sector or social enterprise. The evaluation concludes that the programme did reach its targets in terms of increased use of quality inputs and improved technology use by smallholder farmers but is less likely, in terms of increased financially sustainable ICT-enabled services, to complement other extension services. Performance was rated as fair to good overall, with the greatest achievements relating to reaching access and application targets, and lowest achievement in terms of the availability of high-quality evidence, and no evidence on impact level (i.e. increased productivity) as this was not measured. Learning and best practice arising from this evaluation regarding (a) content development for ICTenabled channels; and (b) use of ICT-enabled channels either alone, in combination with other ICT-enabled channel, and combined with traditional extension services, can provide useful guidance for donors and practitioners interested in supporting, designing and using ICT-enabled channels.
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