Smallholder-Oriented Data Governance Principles
Guiding framework that supports fair, responsible and inclusive data governance for smallholder farmers
DescriptionOverview of the initiative and its approach.
The Smallholder Oriented Data Governance Principles provide a structured set of recommendations that guide the fair and responsible management of agricultural data involving smallholder producers. The resource outlines values and practices that ensure data rights, transparency, fairness, and equitable participation in digital ecosystems. Additionally, it also supports actors who design, implement or regulate data driven services that involve smallholder farmers.
TechnologyTechnology used by the initiative.
The technology described in the resource focuses on smallholder data ecosystem, a socio-technical system that structures the generation, exchange, storage, and use of agricultural data among multiple stakeholders in smallholder agriculture. At its core are digital and data-driven tools that collect agricultural information, including weather, soil, cropping practices, market pricing, and other farm-related data, largely captured through electronic devices, remote sensing, and field surveys. Within this ecosystem, smallholder farmers act as primary data sources, producing raw data either actively or passively, while a range of other actors interact with, refine, and use that data.
TargetUsers, groups, or communities targeted by the initiative.
The principles target smallholder farmers, decision makers, public institutions, private sector, service providers, researchers and development organisations that work in digital agriculture and data management.
Business modelHow the initiative delivers and sustains its value.
The resource is publicly accessible and distributed without commercial conditions.
ImpactThe observed or intended effects of the initiative.
Given the frameworks outlined in the document, the resource targets to promote ethical responsibility, sustainable benefit-sharing, data privacy and security, and transparent decision-making to address power asymmetries between smallholders and better-resourced actors. By embedding practical necessities such as access to information, infrastructure, and capacity building, the framework envisions to support fair participation of smallholders in data-driven agricultural services and value chains.
PartnersOrganizations and stakeholders involved in the initiative.
Fairfood; Development Gateway; E-Gateway Cooperative U.A.; Solidaridad Southern Africa; Maastricht University
Four BettersThe FAO Four Betters supported by the initiative.
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