FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop 1 The Project’s training...

FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

1

The Project’s training activities

by

Ciro Fiorillo

Agricultural Economist - FAO


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Agricultural Policy training

General objective– Establish a cadre of specialized staff for

the National Agricultural Policy Center of the MAAR and other institutions, trained to cope with agricultural policy analysis, formulation, monitoring and evaluation under the new economic environment.


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Agricultural Policy training: Approach: fulfilling two needs

– rigorous theoretical training needed for policy analysis in market economies

– participative and applied training needed for effective adult in-service training

Methodology– integrating theory with applications and hand on-

experiences– performance assessment, trainees feedback,

incentive system


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Organization of the activities

Phase 1Basic Training

practical abilitiesand theoretical

background needed for

specialized training inpolicy analysis

Phase 2Specialized Training

systematic trainingon issues,concepts

methods andapplied tools

for policy analysis

Phase 3Tailored Training

team working for carrying out

policy researches on subjects of relevance

for Syrian agricultural policy making

Complementary activitiesparticipation in project’s activities (seminars, studies, field work) and ad hoc training sessions for filling emerging gaps


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Present Status

Completed activities – Phase 1: May - December 1998

– Phase 2: January 1999 - August 2000

On-going activities– Phase 3: September 2000 - April 2001

– Complementary activities: May 1998 - May 2001


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Completed activities (in hours)

Phase 1 Phase 2 total

Delivered bynational experts

650 417 1067

Delivered byinternational experts

360 1100 1460

total 1010 1517 2527

Total per trainee 337 759 1096


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Phase 1: Basic Training

Beneficiaries– Enrolled 80 trainees, organized in three groups– 15 trainees voluntarily dropped out

training delivered (in Arabic)

– basic skills: Computer usage and English language

– background for policy analysis: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics and Quantitative methods

– on-the-job training: field visits and policy analysis applications


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Phase 2: Specialized Training

Beneficiaries– Enrolled 52 trainees from phase 1, organized in

two groups, only three drop-outs

Training delivered (in English):

– 11 courses (in 17 modules) covering all main agricultural policy issues, conceptual and analytical tools

– English language– training methodology (optional course)


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Phase 2: Policy Courses Economics of Agricultural Markets Agricultural Policies Applied Agricultural Policies (4 modules) Farm Level Assessment of Policy Impacts Agro-industrial Policies Macroeconomic, Agriculture and Vulnerable Groups Trade and Domestic Policies in Open Economy Sustainable Agriculture and Water Policies (2 modules) Decentralisation and Food Security (2 modules) Cost Benefit Analysis Comparative Agricultural Policies


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Phase 3: Tailored Training

Objectives– let trainees experience how to conduct policy

analysis, working in team with specified individual responsibilities, under the supervision of an international expert

Output– produce research reports on relevant issues for

Syrian agricultural policy making and for the definition of a policy strategy


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Phase 3: Beneficiaries 1– enrolled all the 49 trainees from phase 2, re-grouped

in 8 teams

frequency distribution by age

59

13 13

18

0

5

10

15

<30 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 >50

composition by gender

Male59%

Female41%

Place of work

Idleb

Hama

Tartous

SweidaLattakiaHomsDar'aAl Hassakeh

Other20%

Damascus80%


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Phase 3: Beneficiaries 2Trainees' institutional affiliation

Statistics & Planning17%

Agricultural Affairs11%

Agricultural Economics

9%

Agricultural Extension6%

Lands6%

Agricultural Research4%

Other44%

Univerity of Damascus -

Faculty of Agr.4%

State Planning Commission

2%

Other departments of the MAAR

Olive Bureau4%


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Phase Three: Research topics The decentralisation process in agricultural extension; Policy changes, farm structure and agricultural household

decision making; Agricultural policy implication of Syria-EU negotiations; Agricultural policy implication of preferential and global

trade liberalisation; Draught, desertification and sustainability of agricultural

policies; Efficiency and sustainability of water use in agriculture; Marketing and processing of animal products; Policy review for olive and wheat sub-sectors.


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Complementary activities Seminars

– almost 40 seminars on agricultural economics and policy issues, given by national and international experts

Participation in Policy Studies– collecting and presenting data and information

Building a statistical Database– secondary data collection, entering and verification

Additional, ad hoc, training– Supporting participation in training by filling emerging

gaps


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Assessment: trainees’ opinion Expected usefulness of the Specialized Courses in future policy work

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

EAM1 EAM2 AP PAM CCA PEA LP AFLI AIPA MEPA TDPOE SADP WRP DP FS CBA CAAP

1:Not at all 2 3 4 5:Yes, very much


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Assessment: impact Effectiveness

– best performing trainees assigned to new jobs within the MAAR

– trainees are preparing for working as technical support on crucial policy issues

Follow up– request of further assistance for (1) completing

Individual Training; (2) further training for trainees that will be involved in Policy Analysis, specially within the NAPC; (3) train additional cadre

FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop 1 The Project’s training...

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