The Project’s training activities

1. The Project’s training activities by Ciro Fiorillo Agricultural Economist - FAO FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

2. Agricultural Policy training • General objective • Establish a cadre of specialized staff for the National Agricultural Policy Center of the MAAR and other institutions, trained to cope with agricultural policy analysis, formulation, monitoring and evaluation under the new economic environment. FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

3. Agricultural Policy training: • Approach: fulfilling two needs • rigorous theoretical training needed for policy analysis in market economies • participative and applied training needed for effective adult in-service training • Methodology • integrating theory with applications and hand on-experiences • performance assessment, trainees feedback, incentive system FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

4. Organization of the activities Phase 1 Basic Training practical abilities and theoretical background needed for specialized training in policy analysis Phase 2 Specialized Training systematic training on issues, concepts methods and applied tools for policy analysis Phase 3 Tailored Training team working for carrying out policy researches on subjects of relevance for Syrian agricultural policy making Complementary activities participation in project’s activities (seminars, studies, field work) and ad hoc training sessions for filling emerging gaps FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

5. Present Status • Completed activities • Phase 1: May - December 1998 • Phase 2: January 1999 - August 2000 • On-going activities • Phase 3: September 2000 - April 2001 • Complementary activities: May 1998 - May 2001 FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

6. Completed activities (in hours) FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

7. Phase 1: Basic Training • Beneficiaries • Enrolled 80 trainees, organized in three groups • 15 trainees voluntarily dropped out • training delivered (in Arabic) • basic skills: Computer usage and English language • background for policy analysis: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Statistics and Quantitative methods • on-the-job training: field visits and policy analysis applications FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

8. Phase 2: Specialized Training • Beneficiaries • Enrolled 52 trainees from phase 1, organized in two groups, only three drop-outs • Training delivered (in English): • 11 courses (in 17 modules) covering all main agricultural policy issues, conceptual and analytical tools • English language • training methodology (optional course) FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

9. Economics of Agricultural Markets Agricultural Policies Applied Agricultural Policies(4 modules) Farm Level Assessment of Policy Impacts Agro-industrial Policies Macroeconomic, Agriculture and Vulnerable Groups Trade and Domestic Policies in Open Economy Sustainable Agriculture and Water Policies (2 modules) Decentralisation and Food Security (2 modules) Cost Benefit Analysis Comparative Agricultural Policies Phase 2: Policy Courses FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

10. Phase 3: Tailored Training • Objectives • let trainees experience how to conduct policy analysis, working in team with specified individual responsibilities, under the supervision of an international expert • Output • produce research reports on relevant issues for Syrian agricultural policy making and for the definition of a policy strategy FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

11. Phase 3: Beneficiaries 1 • enrolled all the 49 trainees from phase 2, re-grouped in 8 teams FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

12. Phase 3: Beneficiaries 2 FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

13. Phase Three: Research topics • The decentralisation process in agricultural extension; • Policy changes, farm structure and agricultural household decision making; • Agricultural policy implication of Syria-EU negotiations; • Agricultural policy implication of preferential and global trade liberalisation; • Draught, desertification and sustainability of agricultural policies; • Efficiency and sustainability of water use in agriculture; • Marketing and processing of animal products; • Policy review for olive and wheat sub-sectors. FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

14. Complementary activities • Seminars • almost 40 seminars on agricultural economics and policy issues, given by national and international experts • Participation in Policy Studies • collecting and presenting data and information • Building a statistical Database • secondary data collection, entering and verification • Additional, ad hoc, training • Supporting participation in training by filling emerging gaps FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

15. Assessment: trainees’ opinion FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop

16. Assessment: impact • Effectiveness • best performing trainees assigned to new jobs within the MAAR • trainees are preparing for working as technical support on crucial policy issues • Follow up • request of further assistance for (1) completing Individual Training; (2) further training for trainees that will be involved in Policy Analysis, specially within the NAPC; (3) train additional cadre FAO Project GCP/SYR/006/ITA - 1st National Agricultural Policy Workshop