COVID-19 & DIGITAL EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME 3
April 26, 2024
Connecting Young Women & Girls to Jobs
April 30, 2024Projects
Digital Services for Agriculture 1
Table of contents
Project Overview
The UK Government Digital Access Program (DAP) through the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded Digital Agriculture for Accelerated and Inclusive Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery in Laikipia County was a eight--month project implemented between December 2021 – July 2021. The project was envisioned to enhance access and utilization of relevant digital agricultural content for sustainable agriculture and food security.
The project responded to the digital needs and gaps identified in an initial project conducted between December 2019 and October 2020 funded by UK Government DAP. Findings showed that while there was high interest in digital agricultural content and related information, only 1% of farmers relied on digital content as the source of useful agricultural information. There was a general lack of basic digital literacy skills to access online content, limited awareness and abilities of existing online opportunities for Agricultural content/information. Gender digital divide/disparity in internet access and digital literacy skills and use was evident, with more men likely to have used the internet for agricultural information than women. Over 52% of women lacked basic digital literacy skills compared to 37% of male farmers.
The study findings showed that the high cost of the internet, inadequate, unreliable, unavailable internet coverage, and digital literacy skills gaps were the main barriers to access, low usage of digital agricultural content platforms. In addition, lack of digital literacy skills, inadequate geographical internet coverage, and limited finances were identified as critical barriers to digital access. Digital gender inequalities in internet access and usage were evident. Despite high online information on agriculture, the packaging of the content failed to recognize the farmers' needs hence not easily accessible and usable. Additionally, there was minimal use of digital platforms to procure inputs and access information and financial services.
Digitization of Agriculture in Africa is the game-changer to the agricultural transformation. It has the potential to boost productivity, profitability, and resilience to climate change. The ICT for Agriculture project focused on building a digitally inclusive farmer community in Laikipia County by enabling farmers to access and use locally relevant digital content to improve agricultural productivity and profitability. Using digital tools, resources among others especially among the underserved communities, promotes an inclusive digitally-enabled agricultural transformation to achieve meaningful livelihood improvements for smallholder farmers and pastoralists. Greater participation of women and youth in digital enablement along the agricultural value chain can create more employment opportunities.
The project goals aligned well with Kenya’s Vision 2030. The Government of Kenya recognizes ICT and digitization as a driver of economic development across all sectors through its development. There has been significant growth in the digitalization of agriculture over the last ten years.30. It seeks to promote an innovative, commercially-oriented, and modern agricultural sector through (i) transforming key institutions in agriculture and livestock to promote agricultural growth; (ii) increasing the productivity of crops and livestock; (iii) introducing land-use policies for better utilization of high and medium potential lands; (iv) developing more irrigation areas in arid and semi-arid lands for both crops and livestock; and (v) improving market access for our smallholders through better supply chain management. Digitization or digital enablement offers new opportunities through innovations that upscale the agricultural value chain, using trade platforms that bring farmers closer to the traders by reducing intermediaries.
Objective of the Project
Purpose
The purpose of Maudhui Digiti Project in Laikipia County is to promote digital inclusivity among underserved farming community and organization, and promote access to locally relevant and development-oriented digital content, through exploring the barriers to accessing, critical factors of successful digitization and available digital models and opportunities for on-line users and digital content developers.
Specific objectives include;
The project aims to promote digital inclusivity for enhanced Agriculture by addressing barriers to accessing locally relevant and development-oriented digital content and platforms to excluded or underserved communities & local organisations in Laikipia County.
- Establish the user needs for locally relevant and development-oriented digital content, including e-government services in Laikipia County in Kenya
- Determine the barriers to accessing locally relevant and development-oriented digital content and platforms, including e-government services for excluded or underserved communities and local organisations in Laikipia County
- Establish the critical success factors for generating and availing locally relevant and development-oriented digital content for excluded or underserved communities and local organisations in Laikipia County
- Identify effective models and lessons for delivery of accessible and inclusive locally relevant and development-oriented digital content & platforms for excluded or underserved communities and local organisations in Laikipia County
- Analyze opportunities of developing and accessing locally-relevant and development-oriented digital content & platforms by the excluded or underserved communities and local organisations in Laikipia County
Scope of Work
The project was designed to cover stakeholders engaged in Agricultural activities in Laikipia County. The study targeted Laikipia East, Laikipia Central and Laikipia West sub-counties where small and large scale farmers are mostly situated. The project focused on evaluating digital ecosystem in Laikipia County and implication of digital content among the farming communities and organization. Further, a documentation of top three models for sustainable creation and dissemination of locally relevant and development-oriented digital content, based on the assessments and stakeholder engagement across Laikipia County is recommended.
The Key project activities planned were:
- Advocating for increased access to internet services through advocacy for a well-developed supportive digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas for sustainable digital agriculture and food systems.
- Building digital skills (basic internet skills, intermediate - digital money transactions, and platforms usage) for farmers in Laikipia.
- Supporting the digitization of relevant digital agricultural content aligned to priority information needs identified by farmers taking into consideration the need for diverse language options (Kiswahili and other local languages)
- Creating awareness around the existence and benefits of accessing agricultural digital platforms and promote digital content-seeking culture for farmers in Laikipia county.
- Facilitating the establishment of agricultural information centre in Laikipia County to take the agricultural information and services closer to the people.
- Building agricultural information seeking and utilization behavior among the youth and women to enhance inclusive agricultural productivity in Laikipia county.
- Building partnerships and collaborations with government and private sector players/organisations within the agricultural value chain including digital platform owners, digital access infrastructure providers, agricultural extension service providers/officers, agricultural input players, the county government coordination to support realization of project objectives.
Methodology
Theory of Change
The Theory of change was adopted during the project inception period. The Maudhui Digiti Project goal is to improve access to locally-relevant and development-oriented digital content, including e-government services in Laikipia County in Kenya, through overcoming the barriers to digital inclusion.
The Maudhui Digiti Project is expected to make change along the following interrelated change pathways; digital content, accessibility and digital content platforms utilization relevant to underserved local communities. The Theory changes is built on the following assumptions:
- Stakeholder engagement change pathway: If all stakeholders are involved will lead to more accessible, locally relevant and development oriented digital content for excluded or underserved communities and local organisations. It is expected with an established long term engagement local stakeholders and other development partners working in the county will lead to a more cohesive development of content and content delivery platforms that will be widely accepted. Whereas many partners may have particular focus area due to their expertise, a coordinated engagement will create synergies in different technical areas which will adequately respond to the dynamic needs of the local communities.
- Local-relevant content pathway: If content is better tailored to the needs of typically excluded or underserved communities and local organisations and they are better able to access (and potentially also develop) this content, then they will be better able to leverage the developmental benefits of digital. The utility and ability of an application and its content is better achieved through user-centred analogy where the user plays pivotal role. Table 1 shows the expected outcome based on the theory of change assumption adopted in this project.
Outcome and Impact of assumptions
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Stakeholder engagement change pathway
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Local-relevant content and platforms pathway
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Study design
A quantitative-based cross sectional research design was used. This method was considered adequate to understand current perspectives of the farmer community in Laikipia in regards to relevant digital information. Qualitative data collection used key informant interviews among key County Ministry of Agriculture staff, service providers, local administration and other stakeholders.
Sampling
The Cochran’s formula was used to calculate an ideal sample size given a desired level of precision, desired confidence level, and the estimated proportion of the attributes present in the population. It is considered especially appropriate in situations with large populations exceeding 20,000 as is the case in Laikipia County. The Cochran’s formula was used to arrive at sample size as illustrated below.
The Cochran formula is given by;
Where:
n is the desired sample size e is the desired level of precision (i.e. the margin of error),
p is the (estimated) proportion of the population which has the attribute in question, q is 1 – p
The z-value is found in a Z table
In the case of this study, the team has maintained the normal standards: Confidence Level 95%, Population size 20,000 – defined by finite large numbers, Z therefore 1.96, The margin of Error 0.05% and Response distribution set at 50%.
This sampling technique was applied to the known population of Laikipia County as shown in Table 2 below giving a sample size of 385.
Table 2: Sampling Framework
|
Target Audience Counties |
Sex |
Population |
Sample Size (Cochran Formula) |
||
|
|
Male |
Female |
Intersex |
|
|
|
Laikipia – Population |
259,440 |
259,102 |
18 |
518,560 |
|
|
Sample Size |
154 |
231 |
- |
- |
385 |
Data Collection & Analysis
Questionnaire design and validity
Questionnaires, designed in English language (see attached appendix for the final questionnaire) were used to collect data. The questionnaire was translated into Swahili and pretested before roll out. The tool was checked for content validity which is the degree to which the instrument fully assesses or measures the construct of interest. To check that, the review team understood the study topic and went through the questionnaire to confirm captured the topic under investigation effectively. Secondly, the tool was pretested to ensure the content was understandable at consistent with skip patterns.
In aligning with government guidelines issued at the time with regard to control of COVID-19, that is minimize movements & observing physical distancing, data was collected through a virtual-call Centre platform allowing the field staff to make interview-calls from a designate call Centre. This was also consistent with the recommendations of the market research industry in Kenya. The consultants obtained a database of approximately 1,600 farmers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Laikipia County. The data base was keyed into the Computer Aided Telephonic Interviewing (CATI) system and thereafter, the telephone number selected randomly for dialing by a software.
A total of 404 respondents were sampled with a 60:40 ratio of females to males respectively, given that the target respondents for the study were both male and female farmers in Laikipia. The sample was skewed towards female because the project’s inclination to women empowerment and this quota was factored into the random dialing though the CATI System.
A team of data collectors were recruited on the basis of their experience in data collection and good telephone etiquette. Majority of the data collectors were university graduates with a good command of English and Kiswahili language. In addition, over 60% of the data collectors were female. The team was trained on research ethics, study objectives, content of the questionnaire and how to interview respondents. Data was collected between 11th and 18th April 2020.
Research ethics
Ethical practice was maintained through-out the data collection process. The respondents were informed that their participation was voluntary and their responses anonymous. In addition, they were informed where the researchers obtained their telephone numbers. The ACWICT/OPWAK team engaged the county government team to introduce and explain the nature of the study and the county's benefit before being provided with the farmers’ data-base and contacts.
Data entry and analysis
The data collecting team entered the data automatically on the CATI platform as they made the calls (real-time entry). After data collection, the data was downloaded on CSV format and then analysed using SPSS (a statistical software package). The open-ended questions were coded using a coding frame. Data was presented in form of proportions and disaggregated largely by gender.
Limitations of the study
With regards to data collection, telephone methodology was used. The inherent shortcoming is that the questionnaire needs to be shorter than Face-to-face (F2F) interview one in addition to losing the advantage of visual aids and the detection of social cues and body language. Also, with this type of interview, the interviewer can gain a deeper insight to specific answers by treating the questionnaire like a meaningful discussion and deducing the validity of each responses. The study sought to assess the farmers’ experience with agricultural digital platforms. However, the farmers have had limited access to the internet and therefore there was no awareness of this platforms. This has resulted to limited platform service patronage and quality feedback on the platforms.
Outputs
The completion of the action research study "Enhancing Livelihoods for 2874 Vulnerable Women through Digital Skilling, Development of Local Relevant Digital Media Content" yielded several key outputs aligned with the project objectives:
- Refinement and Improvement of Training Models - The project successfully continued refining, improving, documenting, learning, and sharing knowledge about models for demand-driven training. Insights from previous COVID-19 and Digital Employability project phases were leveraged to enhance training methodologies and ensure relevance to the digital work ecosystem.
- Provision of Demand-Driven Training - New and refresher training sessions were conducted for 2,874 beneficiaries of previous project phases. These training sessions focused on equipping participants with skills identified as most needed and prioritised within the digital ecosystem, enhancing their employability in online and digital work.
- Development of Digital Content Production Skills - Market-driven digital content development skills were imparted to 1,000 vulnerable young women aspiring to join or advance their careers in the digital creative space. Training covered content production, monetisation strategies, and branding techniques, empowering participants to create compelling and commercially viable digital content.
- Mentorship and Connections - Highly successful mentors, influencers, content creators, and personalities were engaged to provide targeted mentorship, hand-holding, and connections to online, digital, and creative work opportunities. This initiative aimed to support 2,874 young women by providing them with valuable guidance and access to relevant networks within the digital industry.
- Financial Literacy Empowerment - Targeted training and resources were provided to empower vulnerable women with comprehensive financial knowledge and skills. Participants received instruction on financial concepts, budgeting techniques, savings strategies, and investment principles, enhancing their financial literacy and promoting financial independence.
- Entrepreneurial Skills Development - Tailored training and mentorship programs were implemented to foster entrepreneurial skills among vulnerable women. Participants were equipped with the mindset, knowledge, and skills necessary to develop and manage their enterprises in the digital landscape, promoting innovation, business acumen, and sustainability.
- Psychological and Soft Skills Enhancement - Targeted training and support initiatives were designed to enhance the holistic development of vulnerable women by addressing their psychological well-being and soft skills. Participants received training in interpersonal communication, teamwork, resilience, and adaptability, improving their employability and socio-emotional well-being.
- Linkage to Quality Engagement Opportunities - Efforts were made to link 72%, that is, 2,069 of the 2874 young women participants, into earnings from quality engagement opportunities in the online, digital work, and creative space. These linkages aimed to provide participants with sustainable income-generating opportunities and career advancement pathways within the digital economy.
- Development of Locally Relevant Digital Content - The project supported the continued development and customisation of locally relevant digital content aligned with priority areas. This initiative addressed community needs, promoted cultural relevance, and contributed to the digital content ecosystem's diversity and inclusivity.
- Partnerships and Collaborations - Collaborative efforts with public, private, and non-profit stakeholders were fostered to leverage resources, expertise, and networks for the benefit of vulnerable women participants.
The outputs of the action research study reflect the project's multifaceted approach to enhancing the livelihoods of vulnerable women through digital skilling and the development of locally relevant digital media content. These outputs signify progress towards achieving the project objectives and advancing the socio-economic empowerment of women in Kenya.
Outcomes
The completion of the action research study "Enhancing Livelihoods for 2874 Vulnerable Women through Digital Skilling, Development of Local Relevant Digital Media Content" yielded significant outcomes aligned with the project objectives:
Refinement and Improvement of Eight Training Models
The project successfully refined and improved models for demand-driven training in online and digital work. Through continuous learning, documentation, and knowledge sharing, the training models were enhanced better to meet the evolving needs of vulnerable women participants.
Developing and documenting eight models for demand-driven, prioritised training was crucial to achieving targeted outcomes. The steps below outline efforts taken to create and document these training models:
Step 1: A thorough needs assessment was conducted to understand the specific requirements and skill gaps among the target group of vulnerable women. Engaged with stakeholders, beneficiaries, and industry experts to identify the most relevant and in-demand skills in the digital landscape.
Step 2: Developed a curriculum that directly addressed the identified needs and priorities of the beneficiaries. It was ensured that the training content aligned with the evolving demands of the online and digital work sectors.
Step 3: Established a framework for prioritising training modules based on the urgency and significance of specific skills. Considered feedback from previous project phases and incorporated lessons learned into the design of new training modules.
Step 4: Designed the training models to be flexible and adaptable to changes in the digital ecosystem. Incorporated continuous feedback and update mechanisms to ensure the content remained current and relevant.
Step 5: Documented the entire process of model development, including the rationale behind the selection of specific skills, methodologies used, and the anticipated impact on participants. Created comprehensive training manuals, guidelines, and resources to support the effective implementation of the models.
Step 6: Explored innovative and engaging training delivery mechanisms, such as online platforms, workshops, and interactive sessions. Considered the diverse learning styles and preferences of the target group to enhance the effectiveness of the training.
Step 7: Implemented a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to assess the performance and impact of the training models. Collected feedback from participants, trainers, and other stakeholders to continuously refine and improve the models throughout the project lifecycle.
Step 8: Facilitated knowledge-sharing sessions to disseminate information about the developed models. Encouraged collaboration with external partners and organisations to exchange best practices in demand-driven and prioritised training approaches.
By meticulously navigating through these steps, the project successfully documented models for demand-driven, prioritised training that addressed the immediate needs of vulnerable women and set a foundation for their sustained success in the digital landscape. Further, the project has developed and documented several models emanating from the overarching conceptual model shown in the figure below of online and digital jobs employability.
