Supported by
					The Commonwealth of Learning

"To mitigate the effects of drought there is an urgent need for sustained information, education and social mobilization effort among the strategic sectors of society, especially among the most vulnerable rural communities" - Dr. William D. Dar , Director General, ICRISAT

Virtual Academy for the Semi-Arid Tropics (VASAT) is a strategic coalition for information, communication and capacity building, operating in South Asia (SA) and West and Central Africa (WCA) in partnership with the Desert Margins Program (DMP). VASAT links and mobilizes stakeholders for drought mitigation in the semi-arid tropics (SAT). It is an innovative and cost effective medium to educate and support a critical mass of rural women and men spread across vast geographical areas by informing them about drought and desertification. It is a response to the need of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to implement a communication strategy for combating drought and desertification.

Mission

• Link rural farm communities with researchers, credible intermediaries and markets through an interface of information and communication technology (ICT) and open and distance learning methods.

• Host a virtual college of experts through web-based learning content management system and link them with various stakeholders.

• Empower vulnerable rural communities to collectively identify problems, articulate their needs and take up informed action in relation to drought preparedness.

Features

VASAT emphasizes creating demand-driven content that can be easily accessed, understood and applied by rural stakeholders. Need-based content thus developed with partners (national and international) is uploaded here. These are then accessed and adapted by local partners, intermediaries and rural farm communities.

Training community animators in partner organizations and multi-disciplinary professionals act as field experts. Ultimately, VASAT turns scientific knowledge into practical solutions to help mitigate the effects of drought and desertification.

VASAT Pilot Hub

VASAT-South Asia

VASAT-West and Central Africa

VASAT Partners

Visit our Anchors & Partners

Download our brochure here (PDF)