Partnership is working to increase small farmers access to ICT knowledge platforms via the Intel-backed software suite, eAgro. The software was developed by Grameen Intel Social Business, established by Intel Corporation and Grameen Trust to respond to global social problems. The tools help small farmers with more informed decision making on key aspects of their businesses, including seed and fertilizer selection, harvest planning and sales management. The partnership aims to bring low cost ICT, applications expertise and business models to IFADs network of more than 250 supported programs in 90 countries to help deliver localized solutions to rural farming communities.

The implementation at country and/or project level follows a public-private partnership approach, whereby national level projects, with support from IFAD, work with local NGO and private sector partners to ensure field implementation. Grameen and Intel play the role of technical and knowledge partner providing the ICT tools, necessary on the ground training for knowledge transfer and deployment of the tools. As the projects develop impact assessments and reporting occur in a participative way where survey design, field survey and reporting are taken after joint reviews by partners. Use of Internal Champions which are dedicated local colleagues who work as advocates of the partnership in respective regions has been found to be an effective approach to bring in wider partners (public and private). Internally, both GISB and IFAD advocate among colleagues and scope opportunities to expand the partnership in additional countries.

This partnership follows ToT based knowledge transfer model with local implementing partners including NGOs and government teams. GISB creates Master Trainers by providing training on the apps and soil test to locally-selected or recruited entrepreneurs/extension agents. This set of Master Trainers then repeat the same training to others and hence the knowledge spreads. Locally customized training tools are used at the project locations to ensure maximum uptake of the tech and knowledge transfer. As a result smallholder farmers get to access services from the ICT tools at their doorstep from their trusted local sources. IFAD ensures links to local experts from the public and private sectors to ensure tools are contextualized for local growing conditions, and to further ensure scale up and knowledge transfer.

Dedicated partnership contacts from each of the three partners speak monthly, to monitor progress and explore opportunities to expand into new regions. While exploring opportunities each partner jointly and/or individually takes on tasks such as online surveys, developing cases, and ICT tool demonstrations as ways to ensure dedicated efforts towards implementation of the partnership goal and ultimately the SGDs. In addition, a yearly review document is prepared to assess the success and struggles of the year and acts as a strategic tool to course correct where needed for the next year.

IFAD, Intel, Grameen Trust, Grameen Intel Social Business