The paper will discuss the role of advisory services within agricultural innovation systems; the importance of enhanced capacities for better performance at individual, organisational, and enabling environment level; the constraints and roles of actors at national, regional, and global level; and recommendations for action and partnerships to strengthen capacities and the role of advisory systems at all levels. Prior to the GCARD, the new extensionist concept will have undergone a peer review, global electronic consultation, and validation exercise at the GFRAS annual meeting.