In January 2006, the Agricultural and Development Economics Division of FAO summoned experts from around the world to a workshop to discuss topics relevant for rural development and rural poverty alleviation in a rapidly changing and globalizing world. The main topics covered in the workshop included:
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changes in the rural development paradigm; |
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changes in food systems and markets and their significance for rural development; |
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emigration from rural areas and rural development; |
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fiscal policies for rural development; and |
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the rural development strategies of international development banks. |
The objectives of the workshop were to:
1. Understand how changes in "drivers" (such as globalisation and changes in food systems) may cause a shift in the prevailing Rural Development Paradigm, and what may be the regional characteristics of such a paradigm.
2. Raise awareness of a poverty reduction/rural development strategy which goes beyond the narrow confines of agriculture.
3. Examine rural household strategies for getting out of poverty
4. Produce guidelines or a checklist of issues to be considered in guiding rural development policy
5. Learn how the paradigm shift translates research and policy directions (primarily for FAO).
More details about the workshop are available in the:
> workshop agenda
> workshop report
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