FAO Seed Security Assessment Training: Manual for Trainees
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Day 1: Section 1 - Sessions 1 to 4
Day 1: Section 1 - Sessions 1 to 4
This section of the training is an introduction to SSA and a review of the important concepts for understanding seed security.
Session | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
Session 1 | 08:30-09-00 | Welcome, introductory remarks (Presentation) |
Session 2 | 09:30-10:15 10:15-11:00 | Course overview (Presentation) Break |
Session 3a: Seed Systems | 11:00-13:00 13:00-14:00 | Seed systems: basic concepts (Presentation) Discussions
Break |
Session 4: Seed Security Conceptual Framework | 14:00-17:00 | Seed Security Conceptual Framework (SSCF) (Presentation) Exercise in small groups (Handout) |
Day 2: Section 2 - Sessions 5 and 6
Day 2: Section 2 - Sessions 5 and 6
This section of the training uses the concepts from Day 1 to examine and continue to build an understanding of the revised Seed Security Conceptual Framework (SSCF) and an introduction to the SSA methodology. The SSCF is the foundation of Seed Security Assessment and a thorough grasp of it is essential for SSA practitioners. Case studies and group work are used to challenge the participants’ grasp of the concepts. Using the SSCF and then the Steps in Conducting a SSA is explored through the use of short presentations and Group work.
Session | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
Session 5: Seed security interventions | 08:30-09:00 09:00-09:15 09:15-10:30 10:30-11:00 | Recap Seed interventions in the recent past (Presentation) Group work and group presentations on Mapping and analysing seed interventions Tea/coffee |
Session 6: The steps to conduction a SSA | 11:00-11:20
| The 5 SSA steps - Steps 1 and 2: Preparation and Baseline (Presentation) Group work, group presentations and Q&A (Handout 1) Lunch The 5 SSA steps - Steps 3, 4 and 5: Understanding disaster, diagnosis and action plan; Q&A (Presentation) Break Group work and presentation: disasters, changes and action plan (Handout 2) Tea/coffee Accountability to affected populations |
Day 3: Section 3 - Sessions 7 and 8
Day 3: Section 3 - Sessions 7 and 8
This part of the course takes participants through the different data collection tools used in the SSA. There are eight tools: Household Survey questionnaire; Local Market Survey questionnaire; Focus group discussion guide; Key informant interview guide; Agro-input questionnaire; Seed institutions questionnaire; and Seed aid actors questionnaire. Emphasis is on detailed explanation of the forms and how to use them through practical exercises. The sessions in Day 3 are: Session 7: Tools for effective, efficient, and rights-based field work; Session 8: Introduction to field work.
Session | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
Session 7: 7a) SSA Site Selection & 7b) SSA Tools | 08:30-09:00 09:00-09:20 09:20-09:35 09:35-10:00 10:00-10:30 10:30-11:00 11:00-11:30 11:30-11:45 11:45-12:00 12:00-13:00 13:00-14:00 | Recap SSA Site Selection (Presentation) - (Handout on sampling) SSA Tools for field work: Basic concepts (Presentation) Group Work: Key informant interview (KII) - (Handout Seed Institutions; Handout Seed Grower Farmers/Groups; Handout Seed Aid Actors; Handout Agro-Input Dealers) Group Work: Household Survey (HHS) - (Handout) Tea/Coffee Group Work: Local Market Survey (LMS) - (Handout) Focus Group Discussion (FGD) - (Handout) Useful techniques for FGD (Handout for Facilitators) Role play (FGD) Lunch |
Session 8: Introduction to field work | 14:00-14:10 14:10-15:20 15:20-16:00 16:00-16:20 16:20-17:00 17:00 | Introduction to field work preparation (Presentation) Preparation and practice by role playing (Field team leader Guide - Instructions for enumerators - Enumerator Guidelines for SSA) Meeting by team Coffee/Tea Meeting by role Wrap up/End of the day |
Day 4: Section 4 - Session 9
Day 4: Section 4 - Session 9
Presentation and discussion of the SSA tools is a first step but using them in the field is critical for fully grasping how to gather effective information. This day is for practicing the use of SSA Tools in a nearby village so that the trainees have hands-on experience with the tools and the experiencing of implementing an SSA.
Session | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
Session 9: Field work | 06:30-07:00 07:00-08:00 08:00-08:30 08:30-09:00 09:00-11:30 11:30-14:00 14:00-15:00 15:00-16:00 16:00-16:30 16:30-17:30 17:30-18-30 13:00-14:00
| Meeting at training venue (Presentation) Departure to the field Introduction to local leaders Getting to know the local area Household survey + FGD LMS + KII Travel back to the training venue Discussion: field work experience Coffee/tea Data entry: HHS Database (Excel and Instructions); LMS Database (Excel and Instructions); Create an Excel Database; Example of Database for Nepal Data cleaning/Management: HHS (Tables); LMS (Tables); Data analysis (Handout) Lunch (packed) |
Day 5: Section 5 - Sessions 10 to 12
Day 5: Section 5 - Sessions 10 to 12
Accurate data collection is important but determining what the data means is critical. During day 5 there will be practical sessions on data entry and analysis from the tools based on the information gathered in the previous day. There are also important sessions on how to develop SSA analysis using the Seed Security Conceptual Framework and how to turn SSA analysis into action.
Session | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
Session 10: Generating results from the field work | 08:00-08:30 08:30-08:45 08:45-10:30 10:30-11:00 11:00-12:00 | Recap Generating results from the field work (Presentation) Discussion: field work assessment results Coffee/tea Discussion: Field work assessment results |
Session 11: Presenting results | 12:00-12:10 12:10-13:00 13:00-14:00 14:00-14:30 14:30-15:00 | Presenting results (Presentation) Presentations: Team 1 Lunch Presentations: Team 2 Presentations: Team 3 |
Session 12: Evaluation & closure | 15:00-15:30 15:30-16:00 16:00-16:30 | Final evaluation (Presentation) Closing session (Evaluation form) Coffee/tea |

