Launch workshop report: Development of digital technologies for agriculture in Djibouti

This report documents the national launch workshop of the BREFONS-Djibouti pilot initiative on digital agricultural advisory services, held in Djibouti City on 5 October 2025 under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, Livestock and Fisheries Resources (MAEPE-RH), with financial support from the African Development Bank and technical assistance from Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT. The workshop marked the formal commitment to transition from diagnostic analysis to operational deployment of a frugal, inclusive and accountable digital advisory system adapted to Djibouti’s agro-ecological and socio-economic context.

The launch combined the presentation of baseline survey results from Ali-Sabieh and Tadjourah with participatory plenary sessions and thematic group work. Baseline findings highlighted limited but promising digital readiness: while access to connected smartphones remains partial and regular use of digital tools for agriculture is low, producers expressed strong interest in practical, short and locally relevant formats. Micro-videos and radio were identified as the most useful channels, complemented by SMS and WhatsApp summaries, with significant disparities linked to gender, geography and livelihood systems. These results confirmed the need for a multilingual (Afar, Somali, Arabic and plain French), multi-channel and user-centered approach.

The workshop resulted in a shared implementation framework structured around five priorities: securing access and infrastructure through robust channels; strengthening digital literacy and proximity support; integrating gender and social inclusion; clarifying institutional coordination, editorial processes and data governance; and preparing sustainability and gradual scaling. Concrete decisions were taken for the first 0–90 days, including the establishment of an editorial committee and data focal points, the production of agro-meteorological bulletins, the launch of three thematic mini-pilots (water and irrigation management, animal health, and market gardening advice), the training of a core group of advisors with significant female participation, and the adoption of a frugal monitoring and evaluation system.

The report provides an operational roadmap for piloting and consolidating a national public agricultural information service that prioritizes usefulness, accessibility and trust, and lays the foundations for evidence-based scaling in Djibouti.