Regulations on Extension Grants for Private ESPs

Extension grant: Funds/subsidies given to accredited private ESPs for approved extension projects.
Extension: Managing knowledge for empowering farmers and organizations to solve their issues, including training, advisory, demonstration, and communication services.
Extension Service Providers (ESPs): Accredited organizations undertaking training and complementary extension activities on behalf of the DA.
Demonstration services: Showcasing improved mature technologies developed by R&D institutions or in partnership with farmers and fisherfolk.
Farm and Business Advisory Services: Providing on-demand information and advice on production, marketing, investments, financial and management inputs for farmers and fisherfolk.
Information and Communication Services: Sharing/exchange of information via print, broadcast media, folk media or electronic means.
Training Services: Offering interventions to enhance knowledge, skills, attitudes, covering technical and social technologies relevant to clientele needs.
Training Proposal: A concept note describing intended training intervention submitted for resource approval.
Training Design: A detailed plan for the training event including objectives, content, methodology, evaluation, schedules, and resources.

Grants cover extension services provided by accredited private ESPs.
Grants can be used for expenses related to training, demonstration services, information/communication services, and farm/business advisory services.
Four major categories of grants:
1. Training (e.g., crop and livestock training)
2. Techno-demo (e.g., season-long production demos)
3. Production/development of IEC materials (e.g., brochures, multimedia materials)
4. Farm and Business Advisory (e.g., market linkages, feasibility studies, e-trading)

Proposals must:
1. Address DA programs on food security, competitiveness, growth, poverty alleviation, and quality of life.
2. Align with DA’s pillar program on technology and extension.
3. Respond to the regional extension needs in agriculture and fisheries.

ATI issues announcement specifying grant availability and qualification criteria.
Regional proposals are submitted to the nearest ATI-Regional Training Center (RTC) for initial review and endorsement.
National proposals submitted directly to ATI Central Office.
Proposals must be submitted in both hard and electronic copies.
Only accredited private ESPs’ proposals are considered.
A Project Proposal Review and Awards Committee is created to evaluate submissions.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is executed to define terms and conditions upon approval.
Grant released in tranches:
- 50% upon MOA signing
- 30% after conduct of extension activity
- 20% after submission of completion report and meeting post-activity requirements

Knowledge products developed under the project are jointly owned by ATI and the accredited ESP.
ATI reserves right to monitor and visit project sites anytime during implementation.

Guidelines and grant system may be amended upon ATI Director recommendation and DA Secretary approval.
Rules effective 15 days after signing and publication in a newspaper.
Can be revoked only by a written issuance of another AO or memorandum.