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Training and capacity building


What is local knowledge? What is biodiversity? What is gender? What is participation? How are these issues linked with each other?

Participants explore these questions in training courses prepared mainly for researchers or extension workers from various NGOs, government institutions or other organisations.

The aim of the training courses is to enhance the participants’ understanding of the role of rural men and women’s local knowledge and the importance of this knowledge for sustainable management of biodiversity and food security. The courses provide the participants with new skills and tools in gender analysis, participatory methods and communication techniques which they can apply in their daily work.

With assistance from the FAO Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA) programme, the project sponsors training of trainers to build a core group of resource persons in Mozambique, Tanzania and Swaziland, who are able to integrate the training approach in their own programmes and institutions.
Click here for more information about the FAO Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA) programme.

During Phase I more than 250 people participated in LinKS training courses. Phase II gives priority to requests from institutions that are able to take up and use the knowledge and approaches in programmes directly benefiting rural men and women farmers. According to the project’s experience, it is important to link capacity building and research work. Each medium term research activity starts with a training workshop for the research team to make sure that the researchers are able to apply the necessary tools and provide precise research data.

LinKS supports also the development of post graduate training material for Universities on participatory approaches to local knowledge and biodiversity management for food security. A bibliography and a tentative course syllabus were developed in Phase I, in Phase II teaching modules have been developed further. Based on extensive training experiences, LinKS has developed a training manual for project facilitators. This training material will also be translated in Portuguese.


Training workshops:

Mozambique
Tanzania
Swaziland
Zimbabwe

Training Workshops in Mozambique
Workshop title
Date and venue
Participants
Remarks
Beira
6 - 10 December 2004
Extension Supervisors and extensionists
Objectives: to share experiences on the value of Local Knowledge for Agrobiodiversity and Food Security; to enhance Extension staff skills to analyse gender, biodiversity, Local Knowledge and Food Security
Inhambane
22 - 26 November 2004
Extension Supervisors and extensionists
Objectives: to share experiences on the value of Local Knowledge for Agrobiodiversity and Food Security; to enhance Extension staff skills to analyse gender, biodiversity, Local Knowledge and Food Security
Nampula
1 - 5 November 2004
Extension Supervisors and extensionists
Objectives: to share experiences on the value of Local Knowledge for Agrobiodiversity and Food Security; to enhance Extension staff skills to analyse gender, biodiversity, Local Knowledge and Food Security
Maputo
7 to 16 November 2002
Researchers
In collaboration with IPGRI
Socio-economic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA)
Maputo
1-13 July 2001
Government officers, researchers and NGO representatives
In Collaboration with SEAGA-FAO Programme
Local Knowledge, Biodiversity and Gender in Food Security
Xai-Xai
23 October - 3 November 2000
Researchers, government officials, extension and community development workers
In collaboration with IDRC
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Training Workshops in Tanzania
Workshop title
Date and venue
Participants
Remarks
Tanga
3 - 14 January 2005
Researchers
Objectives: to train researchers and TFNC staff on gender and sustainable livelihoods approach
Training Workshop SUA TARP II
Kibaha
15 - 26 November 2004
Researchers
Objectives: to train TARP II staff on gender and sustainable livelihoods approach
Tanga
13 - 17 September 2004
Researchers
Objectives: to train TARP I staff on gender and sustainable livelihoods approach
LinKS Training Workshop on agro-biodiversity, gender and local knowledge
Kibaha
12 - 23 July 2004
Researchers and trainers
Objectives: to share experiences on participatory approaches in understanding the value of Local Knowledge for Food Security.
Morogoro
7-8 April 2004
Researchers, trainers and other development workers from the partner organizations of LinKS in Tanzania
Objectives: to sensitise participants on the LinKS concepts; to provide a conceptual framework to explore the linkages between Agro-biodiversity, Gender and Local Knowledge systems for Food Security; and to provide the opportunity to interact with LinKS partners from Swaziland, Mozambique and Tanzania
Morogoro
5-6 April 2004
Researchers, trainers and other development workers from the partner organizations of LinKS in Tanzania with co-facilitators from Mozambique and Swaziland
Objectives: to sensitise participants on the LinKS concepts; to provide a conceptual framework to explore the linkages between Agro-biodiversity, Gender and Local Knowledge systems for Food Security; and to provide the opportunity to interact with LinKS partners from Swaziland, Mozambique and Tanzania
Training of Trainers Workshop on agro-biodiversity, gender and local knowledge
Kibaha
29 March -
2 April 2004
Trainers from the partner countries of LinKS: three from Swaziland, three from Mozambique, and five from Tanzania (including the national LinKS facilitator)
Objectives: to verify content and structure of manual in the specific country context; to collect additional examples; to train a small group of trainers in the utilisation of the training material, and to support trainers in adjusting the material to their specific country context.
Workshop on analyzing fieldwork data of the local animal genetic resources research activity
Kibaha
10 - 12 December 2003
Research team, LinKS national team
Objectives: to analyze the data in the field notes, list down the gaps in data and agree on the logistics of the next round of research
Morogoro
17 - 24 November 2003
Research teams, LinKS national team, LinKS Rome, international consultant from Noragric
Objectives: to build capacity of the members of the research teams on social science analysis and to finalize intermediate research report
Stakeholder workshop to share the findings from the field and plan for the next round of research of the local seed management practices research activity
Mbeya,
11 November 2003; Dodoma, 14 November 2003
Stakeholders in both research sites: researchers, extension staff, farmers, District Agricultural Officers, NGOs, seed companies. LinKS national team
Objectives: to share results of the fieldwork with stakeholders and find out jointly the gaps and issues fort he second round of fieldwork
Training of Trainers on LinKS concepts and implementation of gender sensitive participatory approaches to research and extension
Kibaha
15 - 26 September 2003
2 participants from Mozambique, 2 participants from Swaziland, NGOs, researchers and extension staff from agricultural research institutions, Ministries and government institutions
Objectives: to have pool of trainers familiar with LinKS concepts and approach in Tanzania
Arusha
8 - 12 September 2003
Research teams, LinKS national team, international consultant from Noragric, LinKS Rome team
Objectives: to initiate the analysis of the research findings and to look into a possibility to consolidate the data from the two research sites
Morogoro
24 - 30 August 2003
Research team, LinKS national team and international consultant
Objectives: to revise the research proposal and prepare field guide for the first round of fieldwork
Fieldwork planning workshop for the local seed management practices research activity
Mbeya, 6-7 May 2003 (Southern Highlands team); Dodoma 10-12 May 2003 (Central Zone team), and joint one day workshop on 13 May 2003 in Dodoma
Research teams, LinKS national team, international consultant from Noragric, LinKS Rome team and stakeholders
In the workshop the teams together with some stakeholders prepared a detailed research guide for the first round of fieldwork
Stakeholder workshop to elaborate the research proposal of the local seed management practices research activity
Mbeya, 5 May 2003; Dodoma, 9 May 2003 for the stakeholders of respective areas
Stakeholders in seed sector in both research areas: researchers, extension staff, farmers, District Agricultural Officers, NGOs and representatives of seed companies. LinKS national team, international consultant
Objectives: to review the research proposal jointly with stakeholders and identify areas of collaboration with them
Training workshop on Gender and Participatory Approaches for Sustainable Use and Conservation of Agricultural Biodiversity and Food Security: Focus on Livestock Sector
Morogoro
31 March – 11 April 2003
Researchers and extension staff from universities, NGOs, Ministries and other institutions in livestock sector
Objectives: to prepare the multidisciplinary research team for their field work. The focus of the training was on local animal genetic resources
Morogoro
27 - 31
January 2003
Researchers and extension staff from Southern Highlands and Central Zone, and researchers from government and other institutions, LinKS national team, consultants
Objectives: to develop a final research proposal, prepare workplan including timeframe for the research activity, and impact skills to the participants on applied Participatory Action Research (PAR) process
Dodoma
2 - 13 December 2002
Researchers and extension workers
Preparation for research activites on local seed management and animal genetic resources management. In collaboration with SDRE/FAO
Training of trainers on Local Knowledge, Biodiversity and Gender in Food security
Arusha
21 May - 2 June 2001
NGOs and government agricultural extension workers
In collaboration with NEMC/UNDP/GEF Crossborder Biodiversity Project
Local Knowledge, Biodiversity and Gender in Food security
Mbeya
23 April - 4 May 2001
College lecturers and District agricultural officers
In collaboration with Indigenous Soil and Water Conservation Programme (ISCP) and Cooperative College Moshi
Arusha
16 - 27 October 2000
NGOs and government agricultural extension workers
In collaboration with NEMC/UNDP/GEF Crossborder Biodiversity Project
Agro-biodiversity, Gender and Local Knowledge Systems in Food Security
Mtwara
12-13 October 2000
District Extension Workers, Mtwara and Lindi regions
In collaboration with Naliendele Agricultural Research Institute
Gender and Organisational Change
Dodoma
22 May
- 1 June 2000
Pelum Association partners from Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe
In collaboration with PELUM Association
Kibaha
28 February - 10 March 2000
Researchers, NGOs, government officials
In collaboration with SEAGA Programme FAO
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Training Workshops in Swaziland
Workshop title
Date and venue
Participants
Remarks
Simunye
11 - 15
October 2004
MOAC staff and local NGOs
In collaboration with UNISWA
Simunye
5 - 8
October 2004
UNISWA researchers and lecturers and MOAC staff
In collaboration with Sesuka Shamba Community Development Consultancy
Manzini
14 - 16
September 2004
Government and non-governmental staff
In collaboration with Sesuka Shamba Community Development Consultancy
Simunye
1 - 11 October 2003
Government and non-governmental staff
In collaboration with UNISWA, Luyengo
Training Workshops in Zimbabwe
Workshop title
Date and venue
Participants
Remarks
Communicating Knowledge for Agricultural Extension

Harare,
12-13 March 2001

Rural communication officers (Agritex) In collaboration with SADC Centre of Communications for Development and Agricultural Extension Department (Agritex)
Training of Trainers in Socio-economic and Gender Analysis (SEAGA), SEAGA-FAO Programme Chegutu, 18-29 September 2000 LinKS staff and partners In collaboration with IP (Integrated Programme)  
Gender, Biodiversity and Local Knowledge for Food Security Mutare,
14-25 August 2000
Researchers, NGOs, extensionists and university lecturers In collaboration with Manicaland Development Authority
Training workshop on Gender and Organizational change Harare
22 May- 2 June 2000
Researchers, NGOs and extensionists In collaboration with PELUM
Gender, Biodiversity and Local Knowledge for Food Security Masvingo,
29 November Ð 10 December 1999
Researchers, NGOs, extensionists and university lecturers In collaboration with AZTREC
Gender and Plant Genetic Resources Management Harare,
20-22 September 1999
Researchers, university lecturers and NGOs In collaboration with SEAGA programme FAO and Noragric, Norway
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Please click here, if you are interested to see the publications of the LinKS project