SYRIA
Integration of Women in Agricultural and Rural Development
Project Number: TCP/SYR/6714 (T)
Duration: 16 months
FAO Contribution: US$ 203,000
The Syrian Arab Republic is located in the east of the Mediterranean with a total population of 14 million inhabitants. Agriculture in Syria constitutes an important sector of economy accounting for about 20% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 20% of export earnings. The agricultural sector employs around 25% of the labour force and meets a great part of food needs and raw materials for agro-based industries. About 50% of the population live in rural areas, half of them are women. Illiteracy rate has decreased generally but it is still higher among women than it is for men, besides the rate of women who get preparatory or high education is very low because of early marriage or simply having no interest in education. Rural population suffer from poverty, inadequate water supply for human and animal consumption, lack of sanitation and in some areas absence of health centres, transport, and even primary marketing services.
Women in Syria are major contributors in four sub sectors of the rural economy: crop production, livestock production, cottage industry and household and family maintenance. Despite this, women's participation and contribution remain statistically invisible because labour taken on by women has often been viewed merely as complementary to household and family tasks. Nevertheless, females represent about one third of the total agricultural labour force and this rate is increasing as a combined result of intensification of farming, male urban and international migration and few alternative employment opportunities for farm women.
The Syrian Government fully recognizes women's rights, needs and contributions. The constitution guarantees women equal rights and opportunities and endorses affirmative action in favour of women to remove obstacles to their full and equal participation in the political, social, economic, and cultural life of the country. Thus Government has established special organizations and institutions dealing with women's problems. The major organizations are:
· Women in Development Section of Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform
· General Union of Women (GUW).
These organizations promote the potential role of women in agricultural and rural development. Therefore, the Government has sought FAO/TCP assistance in strengthening human resources development for this purpose.
Formulation of an action plan (with clarified procedures) for the integration of rural women in all aspects of agricultural and rural development.
1. Reorganized WID/household economy (WID/HE) section of the MAAR.
2. Sensitization of decision makers to gender analysis.
3. Establishment of a national data base on women activities in agriculture.
4. An action plan (with clarified procedures) for the integration of rural women in rural development.
The following activities will be carried out:
January 1998 - April 1998
· Review of the existing organization and procedure of the WID/household economy section of the MAAR.
· Review other WID active organization, associations and their relations with the WID/HE section of the MAAR.
· Propose a reorganized WID/HE section of the MAAR, under the direct supervision of the Minister of Agriculture aiming to provide a "WID touch" to all the MAAR development activities.
· Identify and develop appropriate mechanisms of cooperation among all WID concerned organizations; and associations in the country.
· Define information sessions programme in relation with decision makers background.
· Prepare the needed audio visual material.
· Hold a seminar on Gender Analysis in cooperation with the Extension Directorate.
May 1998 - October 1998
· In cooperation with the Central Bureau of Statistics and with the Statistic and Planning Directorate of the MAAR establish a National Data Base related to women's Activities in the Agricultural sector.
· Define the investigations tools in accordance with the recommendations made by Mr. Ibrahim Ali in his Paper entitled "Description and Evaluation of the Syrian Population and Agricultural Census and surveys: Proposals for improving the collection and production of sex desegregated statistics.
· Test the investigations tools on representative samples.
· Define, for the statistical questionnaires, the population to be investigated to obtain significant results.
· Train the investigators at the Central Bureau of Statistics and carryout the investigations, data/information collection.
· Create an easily accessible data bank (e.g. under MS access software).
· Train at least two professionals and on alternates on how and to use the data bank.
November 1998 - April 1999
· The main findings of the investigations presented and discussed at provincial level in cooperation with the Extension Directorate and with its Provincial units (at least 7 provinces).
· Prepare a synthetic report on investigations findings.
· Discuss the report with Government authorities.
· With the technical and logistical support of the Extension Directorate, make as large as possible diffusion of the report (through newspapers and/or television) and invite all interested people to make their comments and/or to participate to the provincial meetings/workshop. The donor community should be informed through a regular (during project life span) newsletter.
· With the technical and logistical support of the Provincial Extension Units, organize meetings/workshops at provincial, district or country level, (at least 7 provinces).
· In close cooperation with the Statistic and Planning Directorate of the MAR, an action plan leading to the integration of rural women in all aspects of the agricultural and rural development will be drafted, discussed with the concerned authorities and presented to the donor's community.
· Prepare programmes/projects related to the different aspects covered by the action plan.
· Discuss proposals with Government authorities and establish hierarchy.
· Present the programmes/projects proposals to the donor's community in the framework of a "WID Round Table".
· The project will be carried out in synergy with the GCP/SYR/006/ITA through 3 main issues:
· Capacity building, especially in the reorganization of the WID/HE section of the MAR. Gender analysis as part of agricultural policy analyses in the MAR. Sharing information/background/findings/outputs relating to common subject matters.
Personnel
International consultant in Gender Analysis and Planning of WID activities. This consultant, will be the team leader, and will visit Syria in four missions (three of one month and one of three weeks) organized throughout project life span. 3 months 3 weeks. International consultant in institutional aspects of WID activities. 2 months (TCDM). International consultant in rural statistics. 1 month (two weeks missions) (TCDM).
National consultant on household technologies. 2 months. National consultant in communication. 2 months.
Backstopping Missions
Two one week backstopping missions.
Official Travel Up to US$10, 000
Contracts Up to US$4,000
A contract will be made with a local NGO to prepare a video film on the results of the field investigations. This video film will be broadcasted on Syrian television.
General Operating Expenses Up to US$10,774
Materials and Supplies Up to US$10,000
Acquisition of various supplies for the project such as technical documents, periodicals, stationary and other miscellaneous items.
Equipment Up to US$ 45,000
Training Up to US$ 15,000
Decision makers Information Sessions:
· Seminar for three days in Damascus (National Level) 10-15 participants
International & National Consultants as lecturers. Cost: US$ 800
· A one day session in each of the seven selected provinces 1 0 participants
International consultant in Gender Analysis and Planning. Cost: 200 US$ each. Total: US$ 1,400
Investigators Training Course:
Location: Damascus
Duration: 4 days
Trainees: 30 investigators
Trainer: International and National Consultant
Cost: US$ 2,400.
Data-bank use in training session for at least 4 persons (2 Prof. and their alternates)
Location: Damascus
Duration: 2 weeks (12 days)
Trainees: 4
Trainer: National Consultant in Data Bank Design and Management.
Cost: US$ 1, 000.
Provincial Meeting/Workshops:
Location: Up to 3 in each of the seven selected provinces
Duration: 1 or 2 days
Participants: 10 to 15 Extension Directorate and Project Staff
Cost: Up to US$ 6, 400.
WID Round Table:
Location: Damascus
Duration: 1 day
Participants: 30-40
Cost: US$ 3,000.
Each international and national consultant will prepare a mission report containing the main results, conclusions and recommendations of his mission.
The team leader will prepare a draft terminal statement, in accordance with TCP procedures for finalization by FAO HQ and submission to the Government.
The Syrian Government will provide the following contributions:
Staff
· National Project Coordinator with good working knowledge of English.
· Two professional and their alternate to be in charge of the data bank.
· Two extensionists
· Twenty technicians to act as investigators.
· One secretary and one driver.
Other Inputs:
· The Government will provide adequate office space in Damascus within the WID/ HE section of the MAAR.
· The Government will also provide facilities for in-service training, information sessions, seminars and workshops.