The course addresses the challenges that small holders are expecting to face in meeting their food and livelihood needs especially the challenges posed by climate change. A range of approaches to address these challenges will be discussed including Climate smart agriculture approaches in a range of ecosystems (forest, upland, rained lowlands and coastal),

Fee: $400

The training fee covers course fee, lunch and coffee breaks, course - related materials, and field and agency visits.

Special Discounts

Returning Students

-**3% Discount** for all returning students (copy of IIRR certificate)

-An additional 2% discount is available for women

Group discount

-**5% discount**, for a group of six from the same organization.

For more details, please contact:

Aum Borany

Cambodia Program Coordinator

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL RECONSTRUCTION (IIRR)

#71, St 123/468, Sangkat Tuol Tumpong I, Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh

Telephone No.:(855)23-211-612, Mobile No.: (855) 12-238-346

E-mail: aum.borany@iirr.org Website:www.iirr.org

This is a skills development course which will focus on ways to leverage the nutrition contributions of agriculture using bio intensive and conservation agriculture approaches. Special attention will be devoted to school and family nutrition. Attention will be devoted to ways of conserving local agro biodiversity for nutrition and livelihood needs. Participants will discuss ways to link gardens, nutrition and school education programs.

Fee: $400

The training fee covers course fee, lunch and coffee breaks, course - related materials, and field and agency visits.

Special Discounts

Returning Students

-**3% Discount** for all returning students (copy of IIRR certificate)

-An additional 2% discount is available for women

Group discount

-**5% discount**, for a group of six from the same organization.

For more details, please contact:

Aum Borany

Cambodia Program Coordinator

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF RURAL RECONSTRUCTION (IIRR)

#71, St 123/468, Sangkat Tuol Tumpong I, Khan Chamkamorn, Phnom Penh

Telephone No.:(855)23-211-612, Mobile No.: (855) 12-238-346

E-mail: aum.borany@iirr.org Website:www.iirr.org

The course focuses on the CMDRR framework which asserts that disasters can be avoided and the effects of hazards can be reduced by increasing the individual’s capability to survive and the community’s capacity towards readiness. The goal of CMDRR is to build resilient communities.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

For more information and to receive an application form, contact:

Dulce Dominguez

Email: dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The course focuses on participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning as a management tool for strengthening participation, enhancing local capacity, and increasing local people’s confidence and control over development decisions and processes. It highlights the importance of learning in monitoring and evaluation.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The course focuses on the participatory monitoring, evaluation and learning in resilient communities as the goal of community managed disaster risk reduction. It shall cover skills in facilitating data collection and analysis with the community to enhance their capacity, confidence and control over decisions and processes towards community resilience.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

Dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

Participants learn to appreciate farmers’ roles and the use of participatory methods and tools to come up with a simple research design that can be implemented by farmers and researchers/ extension agents. Also, participants learn to consider farmers’ perspectives and use of local and indigenous knowledge in actively implementing and monitoring agricultural researches.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

Dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The course introduces a holistic food security dimension using: availability, access, utilization and stability as a guiding framework. The course provides a basic overview of climate change adaptation concepts giving special attention to nutrition, gender and environmental components.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The course provides an overview of concepts and principles in value chain and the development of micro and small scale enterprises and business development services. It tackles market assessment; value chain analysis; monitoring and evaluation; and design and management of enterprises for sustainability, allowing small businesses to compete with other market players.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The Visualization in Participatory Programmes (VIPP) approach encourages interactive generation of new ideas through transparent processes. Group work becomes creative and productive and everyone takes part in the process of arriving at a consensus. Dr. Timmi Tillman and Dr. Maria Angelica Salas represent the VIPP-Core Team.

Course fee: $1000

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details, email:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

The course is a basic introductory course to understand the nature of working with communities in addressing climate change issues. The participants will be given an overview of climate change adaptation and mitigation focusing on practical options for livelihoods and agriculture. They will also learn how to facilitate participatory climate vulnerability assessments and community adaptation planning.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

Course Description

The aim of the course is to foster the understanding of the challenges encountered when devising a comprehensive approach of support for international peace operations. It will expose the participants to approaches applied by different actors (Military, Civilian, Development and Humanitarian) on the ground and attempt to demonstrate the complementarity of efforts in conflict resolution. Defining common goals, priorities and strategies, sharing information, effective interaction and resourcing of action will be just a few of the aspects to be trained during the following preparatory phases of a multi-functional peace support operation:

1) Conflict analysis;

2) Planning on operational level;

3) Implementation

Some of issues to be addressed will be: Is there a gap between the political and operational level of the principle actors and how can this gap be bridged? How do we perceive the issues to be resolved and how do we propose to solve them? Recognizing different approaches, how can they be merged into a common planning platform? What are the limits of a common approach? On which grounds do we establish priorities and responsibilities? What is the role of resources?

The course will enhance the knowledge and understanding of the different comprehensive approaches a means to open new avenues for collaboration and cooperation.

In order to encourage an open discussion and exchange of ideas, opinions and concerns, the course will refer to a realistic (but fictional) crisis scenario that requires all participants to get involved and “hands-on”. It will help to meet the practical challenges of co-operation in multi-functional peace support operations.

Learning Objectives

The course is designed to foster the understanding of participants for the diverse challenges and systemic obstacles that originate from the implementation of the comprehensive approach in international peace operations. The aim of the course is to illustrate and clarify the importance and necessity of coherence in joint operations and activities in the field.

Course Modules

• Conflict Mapping
• Identifying Approached and setting Priorities for Conflict Resolution per Sector (Military, Police, Civilian)
• Organizational Cultures: Planning and Decision-Making by Civilian and Military Actors
• Unity of Effort, Identification of Necessities, Challenges and Opportunities for Complementary and Joint Civilian and Military Actions
• Setting Common Objectives (End State)
• Setting Priorities – Sequencing, Synchronization and Resourcing
• Measuring Results Benchmarking and Result-based Budgeting (RRB)
• Introduction to Psy-Ops and Info-Ops
• Integrated Mission Components in UN Peace Support Operations
• Principles and Guidelines for Civil-Military Relations

Course Audience

The training is designed for civilian, police and military experts. Participants must have previous mission experience (UN, EU, OSCE, NATO missions preferred) or work experience in the field of development co-operation.

Venue

This next CAMPO course takes place at the Akademie Berlin-Schöckwitz, outside of Berlin.

Course Fee

€ 150.00 for members of the ZIF Expert Roster

€ 750.00 for external applicants

The course fee covers the cost of accommodation and food during the training. The course program is designed to include informal evening events. You are therefore recommended to stay at the course site. The course fee will not be reduced if you choose not to stay at the official training location. Insurance and travel costs are not included in the course fee and will not be reimbursed. ZIF does not offer scholarships.

For registration, please visit: http://www.zif-berlin.org/en/login.html

Course Description

ZIF Election Observation Courses comply with the equivalent standards of the international sending organizations (EU and OSCE). This course can be considered as the natural follow-on course to the Short-Term Observation (STO) training course. While STO assignments are usually very short, the responsibility and scope of long-term observers (LTO) is far more complex and demands a much greater understanding of the various steps and processes in the organization and running of elections.

The course is held in English.

**
Learning Objectives**

Emphasis is put on the frame and context of LTO-assignments, the working relationship between the core team and the LTOs, the different reporting formats as well as the responsibilities and duties that LTOs have vis-à-vis their STOs. Special attention is drawn to the working with national staff, mainly drivers and interpreters, as a team while respecting the code of conduct. Electronic voting has been added to the curriculum, due to its increasing relevance in certain parts of the world.

Course Modules

• International Actors and Democratization Support (UN, EU, OSCE);
• International Standards and the Electoral Cycle;
• UN and Democratisation: Elections as Part of Peacekeeping Operations
• Electronic Voting;
• Frame and Context of Long-term Election Observation Missions;
• Working Relationship between Core Team, LTOs and STOs;
• Working with National Staff;
• Code of Conduct;
• LTO and STO Reporting: Formats and Responsibilities;
• Security in Election Observation Missions.

Course Audience

The course specifically caters for German and international candidates who have already gained experience as short-term observers in previous assignments and are interested in working as long-term observers serving an average of 2-3 months in a mission. Previous long-term observer experience is not required.

Venue

The training takes place in Berlin, Akademie Berlin-Schmöckwitz.

Course Fee

€ 750.00 for external applicants

€ 150.00 for members of the ZIF Expert Roster

The course fee covers the cost of accommodation and food during the training. The program is designed to include informal evening events. You are therefore recommended to stay at the course site. The fee will not be reduced if you choose not to stay at the official training location. Insurance and travel costs are not included in the course fee and will not be reimbursed. ZIF does not offer scholarships.

Please visit: http://www.zif-berlin.org/en/training/zif-training-courses/long-term-election-observation.html

Course Description

The Core Course Peace Operations offers a general introduction and preparation for the employment in a peace operation of the UN, OSCE or the EU. Since most of the participants usually do not know if, when, and where they will be deployed, the course curriculum has a broad scope in order to cover the diverse realities of the missions. The curriculum is in line with EU training standards and is certified as a combined Core Course Peace Operations and HEAT course according to the C3MC standards (for more Information see ENTRi) .

This two-week course conveys to the participants an overall understanding of the history and development of peace operations, as well as structures and mechanisms of international organizations. Moreover, the international legal framework of mandates and mission deployments are discussed. In order to provide a realistic picture of activities in the field, current staff members of missions will give an insight into their work and daily routine.

A comprehensive knowledge of different soft skills greatly enhances the successful completion of one's tasks at a mission. The training covers such topics as mediation, inter-cultural communication, conflict management, working with interpreters, stress management and gender, and highlights their influence on the work in field throughout the training.

Overall, ZIF trainings are characterized by a high level of practical, mission-related and relevant exercises. Particular emphasis is placed on the practical security training. It seeks - in close cooperation with the German Armed Forces - to raise participants’ awareness of security and risk prevention. Part of the Core Course (three days) is conducted at the UN Training Centre of the German Armed Forces in Hammelburg, where participants are trained in mine awareness, orientation in the field, radio communication, behavior at check points, ambushes and behavior in complex risk situations. Moreover, a driving course teaches the participants how to use 4x4 vehicles in difficult terrain.

Since many of the topics cannot be covered in depth during the training, due to time constraints, ZIF encourages participants to follow-up with further study on their own, especially in preparation for deployment.

The course is held in English.

Learning Objectives

The aim of the course is to provide a realistic insight into the work and mandate of current peace operations by international organizations. The participants will have an opportunity to critically (re-)assess their own mission readiness and motivation. In collaboration with experienced mentors and trainers, the experts will be sensitized for their future deployment in the field, and furthermore equipped with skills that contribute to effective work in peace support operations.

Course Modules

• Structure and Mandates of UN, OSCE, and EU Missions
• Development of International Peace Operations
• Role of Germany in Peace Operations of the UN, EU and OSCE
• International Law, Human Rights, Protection of Minorities, and Rule of Law
• Civil-Military Cooperation
• Gender Aspects in Conflict Situations
• Code of Conduct
• Mission Readiness and Personal Motivation
• Daily Routine in a Mission (UN, EU and OSCE) – Reports from the Field
• Intercultural Communication
• Strategies for Conflict Resolution and Negotiation
• Report Writing, Project Management and Coordination in Field Missions
• Working with Interpreters
• Personal Security
• Mine Awareness and Behaviour in Complex Risk Situations
• Stress Management and Coping with Trauma in Crisis Situations
• Orientation in the Field / Use of Maps and GPS / Radio Communication Basics
• Road Safety and Driving in Hazardous Environment / Use of 4x4 Vehicles
• Different Actors in the Field / Cooperation with NGOs, CivPol, other IOs
• Basic First Aid and Expatriate Health
• National Recruitment and Secondment Procedures

Course Audience

This course is designed for German and international civilian experts who wish to be deployed in international peace operations. Participants will be prepared for deployment in peace operations by an introduction to civilian crisis management.

German participants who participate in the course as external applicants and do not undergo the selection process for the ZIF Expert Roster, will not join the ZIF Expert Roster upon completion of the course. They will therefore not be eligible for German seconded positions to peace operations.

Like all ZIF courses, this course is also open for members of the police and the military.

Venue

The main part of the course takes place at the Akademie Berlin-Schmöckwitz. The three-day HEAT training takes place at the UN Training Centre of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) in Hammelburg. Transportation from Berlin to Hammelburg and back is organized by ZIF, and the cost is included in the course fee.

Course Fee

€ 1800.00 for external applicants (including German applicants who are not applying for membership of the ZIF Expert Roster)

€ 360.00 for applicants to the ZIF-Expert Roster (open to German nationals only), members of the German police and the German military

The course fee covers the cost of full-board accommodation during the training. Since one of the goals of training is to exchange experiences among the participants from different fields and provide an opportunity for networking, ZIF encourages all participants to stay at the training venue. The fee will not be reduced if you choose not to stay at the official training venue. Insurance, visa and travel costs are not included in the fee and will not be reimbursed.

ZIF does not offer scholarships.

Application Process

As an external applicant (civilian, police, or military), please apply for this course via the ZIF database by clicking on the 'Apply Now' button on the top right side of this webpage and following the directions that best match your profile. If the application deadline has passed, please contact the ZIF course contact person for this course directly.

If you are a German national who would like to apply for membership in the ZIF-Expert Roster, please follow the directions outlined here.

Course Description

The Short-Term Election Observation (STO) course serves as an introduction for future election observers. Participants receive an overview of the main international actors – OSCE, EU and UN – and their respective involvement in the field of democratization and election-related activities. Furthermore, international election standards and an overview of the main electoral systems are provided.

Since security is becoming a growing concern for all missions, STO training includes a small security part aimed at raising awareness ofpersonal security issues and the challenges related to working in crisis and post-conflict environments. Special emphasis is placed on respecting the code of conduct, personal mission readiness and motivation. This part is conducted together with the German Police.

The STO course, like all ZIF courses, follows a participatory methodology, and all trainers have an extensive practical background in election observation.

The course is held in English.

**
Learning Objectives**

Through case studies, role plays and simulation exercises, participants will understand the process of election observation and the activities at polling stations and counting centres.

Course Modules

• Introduction of International Actors - OSCE, EU and UN - and their Respective Involvement in Democratisation Activities and Election Observation Missions
• Election Observation, Supervision and Implementation
• International Election Standards
• Case Studies of Election Observation Missions
• Experiences of Short- and Long-Term Observers
• Mission Readiness and Personal Motivation
• Code of Conduct
• German Participation in Election Observation Missions
• Security Aspects
• Information on National Recruitment Procedures for German Nationals

Course Audience

The course is open to qualified German and international professionals. This course is a requirement for German candidates who intend to join the ZIF Expert Roster for Election Observation as potential election observers. STO observers are generally deployed for 7-10 days while long-term observers serve an average of 2-3 months on a mission. The maximum number of participants for the course is 20.

Since ZIF is the Election Observation Mission (EOM) focal point for Germany, please note that only members of the ZIF Expert Roster for Election Observation will be eligible for nomination by ZIF to participate in an election observation mission.

Trainer
Martina Duettmann has worked in the field of international peace operations and election observation for 15 years and has experience of assignments with the OSCE, ODIHR, UN, IFES and IOM in Western- and Southern Europe, Great Britain, the Balkan, the Caucasus, and the Middle East.

Her assignments vary from training in election observation and capacity building and consultancy for election committees to working as an expert on election observation.

Martina Düttmann developed the Short-Term Election Observer Training, for which she has been the lead trainer since 2007.

Venue

The next STO training takes place at the Europäische Akademie Berlin-Grunewald in Berlin.

Course Fee

€ 90.00 for German applicants to the ZIF Expert Roster for Election Observation (open to German nationals only);

€ 450.00 for external applicants and German nationals who are not applying for membership of the ZIF Expert Roster for Election Observation.

The course fee includes all training material, accommodation and meals at the training site. Please note that the course concept also foresees evening activities. Since one of the goals of ZIF training is to promote sharing of experience among the participants from different fields and provide an opportunity for networking, ZIF encourages all participants to stay at the training site. Discounts will not be given to participants who choose to find private accommodation. Participants are required to make arrangements for their own health insurance for the duration of the course.
ZIF does not offer scholarships to training applicants and does not reimburse travel expenses.

For registration, please visit: http://www.zif-berlin.org/en/training/zif-training-courses/short-term-election-observation.html

The course is a basic introductory course to understand the nature of working with communities in addressing climate change issues. The participants will be given an overview of climate change adaptation and mitigation focusing on practical options for livelihoods and agriculture. They will also learn how to facilitate participatory climate vulnerability assessments and community adaptation planning.

Course fee: $1800

The training fees cover meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies.

For details:

Dulce Dominguez

dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

For more information and to receive an application form, contact:

Dulce Dominguez
Email: dulce.dominguez@iirr.org

This course is the second of a series of three training courses that IIRR is organizing for members of Asia Zone Emergency and Environment Network (AZEECON) to build and strengthen their capacities to facilitate community-level climate change work. The first training program was conducted in Cambodia and featured discussions on climate science and the impacts of changing climate on food supply. The course is designed to deepen the understanding of key trainers of Azeecon-member organizations of the challenges to agriculture brought about by changing climate. The course features lessons from community-level actions and the work of other organizations in Odisha to address these challenges. Participants will be given opportunities to learn first-hand through community visits to sites in Odisha featuring scalable adaptation and mitigation practices. Despite its long coastline and abundant natural resources, Odisha is still one of the poorer states of India. Various development interventions are currently being implemented in the state and most have already integrated climate change adaptation and mitigation in their program agenda.

Course Objectives

The course aims to:

1. Deepen the communities’ basic and working knowledge on climate change including causes, effects and impacts;

2. Gain experiential knowledge on various ground-level actions that facilitate adaptation and mitigation of climate change challenges particularly to community-based interventions on food security, agriculture, nutrition, livelihoods and natural resources management;

3. Articulate the philosophy, concepts and principles of community resilience and community-managed approaches to gain resilience in the context of climate change; and

4. Develop an action plan designed to support food security programs in the communities they work with.

Who should attend

Members of AZEECON Field workers Trainers Facilitators Researchers

Methodologies

The course uses a participatory training approach and a roving workshop. Lectures will be complemented by case study analysis, a plenary discussion and field visits. Participants will be given the opportunity to visit different sites and interact with communities to gain hands-on experience in various technologies, practices and strategies that facilitate community-based adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

Course Content

Module 1: Development Challenges in a Changing Climate

This module is a review or refresher session on basic climate science and the principles of adaptation, mitigation and resilience-building. The module concludes with group sharing among the participants their respective organizations’ adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

Module 2: Food and Nutrition Security: New Challenges

This module deepens the understanding of participants of food security and nutrition issues in South and Southeast Asia and focuses on changing climate as a major driver of change. Participants will analyze climate change impacts on food supply and share their analysis through workshops and plenary presentations. This is a two part module; the first part focuses on climate change impacts on food security ad nutrition. Discussions will focus on analyzing food security trends in the region. The second part focuses on vulnerabilities and resilience building.

Module 3: Community-based Actions Towards Building Adaptive Capacities and Resilience

This module features participants learning various technologies, practices, strategies and mechanisms to address climate change impacts. Participants will visit project sites with considerable outputs and/or outcomes that highlight adaptation and mitigation practices and will interact with community members and development workers in theses sites. Interactions will focus on how specific technologies, practices and strategies facilitate community-based adaptation while reducing climate change impacts. Discussions will highlight the varying thematic interventions based on different agro-ecological system in Odisha.

Module 4: Participatory Approaches to Food Security Programming in a Changing Climate

This module is a review of participatory approaches relevant to food security and climate change adaptation or mitigation programming. This will be highlighted by sharing IIRR’s experiential knowledge base in programs development along the lines of agriculture, food security, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation or mitigation.

Module 5: Action Planning

This module assists the participants do action planning guided by a prepared planning guide.

When and where
The eight day course will be held at Odisha, India from 22 to 29 June 2015. Course participants are expected to arrive one day before the start of the course.

Course Fees and Related Term

The training fee of 1,500USD covers course fee, meals and coffee breaks, double occupancy accommodation, course-related materials, field and agency visits, and airport transfers.
Single room occupancy is available upon request and at extra cost. Fees do not include international airfare, laundry and incidental expenses. Applicants are encouraged to secure financial support from their organizations or donor agencies. IIRR reserves the right to cancel the course one month before the course starts if the required quorum is not met. This will be conveyed immediately to the applicants. Course fees will be refunded in full.

For more information and to receive an application form, contact:
Dulce Dominguez
Email: dulce.dominguez@iirr.org
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction
Y.C. James Yen Center, Biga, Silang, Cavite 4118, Philippines
Telephone: +63 46 430 0016
Website: www.iirr.org

Communities around the world, especially in Africa, are facing a serious challenge towards
establishing sustained progress due to the changing climate patterns. Farmers and pastoralists in Africa who are experiencing delayed rains are coping to bridge the gaps of food insecurity and adapting new ways to recover for the next season. Rainfall variability and drought in many parts of Africa are some of the manifestations of climate variability. Indeed climate change is happening and felt by communities. Equally, HIV- aids epidemics, and famine are pressing communities on the verge of disaster. Efforts of many development agencies are facing a major set-back if the capacities of communities are not able to cope, and if risk is not reduced, hence the occurrence of disasters.

CMDRR refers to building people’s capacity to prevent and mitigate the impact of hazards and
reduce the degree of vulnerability of communities at risk through increased individual survivability and community readiness. Building resilient communities therefore means strengthening the foundation of safety and also enhancing disaster risk reduction measures to fully attain resilience against any impending hazards. Disaster solely happens when the foundation of safety is weak and disaster risk reduction measures are not in place. Climate Change Adaptation is a response to climate change that seeks to reduce the vulnerability of social and biological systems, including human populations, to climate change effects. This course is designed as a sustainable strategy for building resilience among the vulnerable communities. The course aims to equip senior project staff and field facilitators with knowledge and skills to facilitate building the capacity of communities who face a wide range of rapid-onset shocks and slow-onset stresses.

The course incorporates a guided field practicum approach and emphasizes equipping participants with the tools and methodologies to facilitate communities on how to identify and assess their risks and, through consensus, develop CMDRR and climate change adaptation strategies. The course also equips participants with the skills on how to design and conduct self-monitoring and evaluation and learning activities. The course is highly participatory (incorporating simulation exercises, focus group discussion, workshops, role play, video showing, case stories, games, field practicum, etc.).

Send applications to: training@iirr.org or contact: +254 20 2370039/43

Development organizations need information on the effectiveness of their efforts. But who
should make these judgments, and on what basis? It is the norm that external experts take charge
of this process. Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning is an approach that involves
local communities, development agencies and policy makers consulting and agreeing on how to
measure progress and use the results. This approach reveals valuable lessons and improves
accountability. It encourages people to examine their assumptions about what constitutes
progress and to address any contradictions and conflicts that can emerge.

IIRR has designed the Participatory Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning course (PMEL) to
address the concerns of development practitioners. The current trends of reduced global
resources and increased demand for good governance and accountability call for increased
efficiency, effectiveness, relevance and sustainability of development efforts. IIRR has over 80
years of development experience in Asia and Africa, with PMEL as one of the pillars of its
development programs. It is imperative that development actors know how best to capture the
real changes that come into effect through their development interventions and thus enhance
accountability and learning.

Course Highlights:

• Outputs, Outcomes and Impacts
• Key Performance Indicators
• Progress Markers (Outcome Mapping)
• Data collection, analysis and reporting
• Most Significant Change
• Simulation exercises
• Reflecting and Learning from Applications in eastern Africa

Apply to: training@iirr.org or call: +254 20 2370039/43

One of the challenges in development is the lack of consolidated and packaged materials as a reference for good practices, efforts and strategies done on the ground. Some of the best field experiences of development organizations and practitioners have not been properly documented due to lack of guidance, skills or capacities of field workers in writing these lessons in a structured and organized manner. Also, although some researchers write well, they lack the field perspective that development workers and local communities need.

This training course is developed to introduce the writeshop process as a methodology to distill, capture, share and document program and project learning. It can be applied to various situations and purposes and is proven to be effective in making field-based experiences and research outcomes widely available to target readers.

A "writeshop" is an intensive, participatory process that brings together experts and process facilitators under one roof to produce simple, user-friendly materials in a short period of time. These may be policy guides, technical manuscripts, brochures or leaflets, a book, and a training manual. Participants may include development workers, scientists, researchers, government personnel, teachers, NGO staff, farmers and local people: anyone who has, in one way or another, been involved in the experiences to be documented and / or people who have substantive knowledge of the topics/themes to be written about. A team of facilitators, editors, layout designers, artists and logistics staff assists the participants usually assists the participants.

The writeshop process was pioneered by the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) and has been adapted by many institutions worldwide. IIRR’s writeshop method has successfully yielded about 100 publications from books to manuals and posters on various topics such as agriculture, agroforestry, livestock, environment, health, fisheries, farming systems, value chain, participatory tools, disaster risk reduction and others.

Complete application and submit to: training@iirr.org or call +254 20 2370039 /43

Over 75% of Africa's population live in rural areas and is engaged in subsistence agriculture,
most of them farming on less than 2 hectares of land. Low technology uptake, low productivity,
low application of inputs, inadequate financial services, poor market access and high price
volatility are among the many challenges facing small holder producers. Smallholder Producer
Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Development (SPEED) course approaches farming from a market
orientation, which aims to enable smallholder producers to commercialise farming to become
food secure and increase incomes and build assets.

This course provides practical market-based solutions to diverse entrepreneurial challenges facing smallholder farmers. Further, the course equips extension staff, livelihood promoters and service providers with entrepreneurial skills and knowledge necessary to transform smallholder farming to commercial ventures. The facilitators will be able to guide various actors in participatory market identification, selection of enterprise and build agro-enterprise skills within the communities. The course will employ participatory methods that include experiential learning like field practicum and action plan development.

Course objectives

1. To equip extension staff, livelihood promoters and smallholder farmers with relevant
   Agro-Enterprise Development entrepreneurial skills and knowledge necessary to
   transform smallholder subsistence farming to commercial ventures with clear market
   orientation that leads to improved profit, food security and asset base.
2. Enhance knowledge and skill base of participants in Agro-Enterprise Development
   through experiential learning and participatory methodologies that will result in positive
   outcomes for smallholder farmers they are working with.
3. Enhance capacity of participants on diverse components of Agro-Enterprise Development
   to enhance effectiveness in influencing entrepreneurial orientation in agribusiness among
   smallholder producers

Complete application form and submit to: training@iirr.org or call +254 20 2370039/43