Training of trainers for smallholders horticulture – Pilot project in Tanzania

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Training of trainers for smallholders horticulture – Pilot project in Tanzania
1.1 Goal The goal of this Pilot Project in Tanzania is to strengthen human capacity on horticulture in East Africa. Horticultural techniques and practices appropriate for tropical Africa, including those associated with production, harvesting, handling and marketing, are known and mostly well documented. Some market-related issues like food safety and quality assurance remain problematic in many countries but even here knowledge is available for those wishing to find it. Clearly lacking in ESA is the intention and the capacity to educate and provide hands-on support to the smallholder farmers, mainly women, who could benefit from growing horticultural crops. The present project will contribute to fill this lack in training advisors dedicated to link small scale farmers and entrepreneurs with up to date, accessible and useful information and knowledge in horticulture.

1.2 Objectives GlobalHort is seeking a pilot project that will achieve the training of a cadre of 30 young Africans to become Horticulture Master Trainers (HMTs) in East Africa. Three core objectives have been identified to complete a successful project: - To screen and select 30 excellent candidates for this training - the choice of candidates is key to ensuring that the trained advisors play their role of trainers and advisors to the farmers, maintain and strengthen the network between them, and develop a regional platform of knowledge on horticulture. - To develop and deliver a 12-week intensive training course divided into 6, 2-week blocks - the course will impart the knowledge and skills needed to support smallholder decision making, from planting to harvesting to marketing, with a collaborative approach and methodologies for network management. - To ensure that there is capacity and opportunity to follow-up this training through coordinated networking and regular training up-dates – this will involve the set up of an East Africa horticulture knowledge and innovation platform connecting national horticulture associations.

1.3 Target Group and Countries Candidates for this training will be identified by farmer’s organizations, horticulture associations and ministries of agriculture - preference being given to young women. It is expected that these Horticulture Master Trainers will return to positions with government or industry. It is also expected that they will train others to be competent farm advisors with specific regard to smallholder horticulture. The training will take place in Tanzania but the trainees will come from across East Africa (Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia). The instructors will be identified by GlobalHort partners and would come from all over the world with priority to regional competences and cooperation.

1.4 Activities A 12-week intensive course, divided into 6, 2-week blocks, will impart the knowledge and skills needed to support smallholder decision making, from planting to harvesting to marketing. The courses will focus as well on methods and tools for knowledge and information management. A1. Select and fully brief the project manager A2. Identify and confirm the role for each partner organization that will contribute to the delivery and success of this project     a. Government and non-government organizations and institutes in Tanzania      b. Farmers organizations in Tanzania and other East Africa countries (e.g., the East Africa Farmers Organization; the Horticulture Council of Africa)      c. Ministries of Agriculture in East Africa      d. Agricultural colleges and universities in East Africa          i. Sokoine University – Tanzania         ii. Makerere University – Uganda        iii. University of Nairobi – Kenya     e. International organizations          i. The World Vegetable Center – Regional Center for Africa         ii. The International Society for Horticultural Science        iii. The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora        iv. The Horticulture CRSP (University of California at Davis) A3. Consult with all partners to develop the curriculum for the 12-week course (Table 1) A4. Select the subject matter specialists that will deliver the training in each 2-week module A5. Invite applications from prospective trainees through direct contact with Ministries of Agriculture and farmer organizations A6. Finalize the venue for housing and training the HMT candidates A7. Deliver the program of training, including field trips, guest lectures, student projects and presentations, examinations, etc. A8. Orchestrate the graduation ceremony and delivery of HMT diplomas A9. Ensure that each HMT is successfully re-connected with her/his place of employment A10. Strongly encourage the HMT employers to provide the expected opportunities to serve smallholders engaged in horticulture A11. Formally evaluate the quality and impact of the training received by:      f. Structured interviews with each HMT by an independent consultant       g. Impact assessments provided by the Ministries of Agriculture or industry organizations employing these HMTs       h. Follow-up interviews with the HMT employers to assess the opportunities provided for the HMTs to train others       i. Interviews with the smallholders served by these HMTs, either directly or by those receiving on-the-job training by the HMTs A12. Consolidate the information database created for this training event and gather other educational resources available through GlobalHort to establish the East Africa Horticulture Knowledge and Innovation Platform. This platform will maintain contact with the HMTs and be a resource for regular up-dating of their knowledge and skills A13. Contract a formal audit of the financial management of the project A14. Prepare a final report to IFAD

1.5 Outputs O1. Human resources management: call for candidates, screening and selection of candidates; empowerment in a collaborative cooperation on horticulture; use and initiate participatory approaches for developing group dynamics instead of individual investments. Outputs: O1.1. Guidelines for selecting candidates for HMT training O1.2. Contribution to national and regional strategic plans for horticulture knowledge management O1.3. Development and use of simple networking tools (wiki type) to keep all trainees in touch O2. Capacity building: Thirty individuals will achieve the status of Horticulture Master Trainer equipped to advise and provide technical support for smallholder horticulture in East Africa. Their subsequent efforts in training, adaptive research, outreach and extension services will augment those of many others associated with the East Africa Horticulture Knowledge and Innovation Platform. Outputs: O2.1. Training report for each HMT including initial expectations and final evaluation of the training courses O2.2. Description of the professional work plan in the following 5 years O2.3. Contribution to a regional network on horticulture knowledge management O3. Nurturing entrepreneurship: Given the perishable nature of horticultural crops, thousands of smallholder farmers will discover the need to link production to marketing. They will become focussed on the market demands for high quality produce and the need to reduce postharvest losses. Through better decisions about what to grow, how to grow and when and where to market, the farmers will experience a sustained increase in business and income. Outputs: O3.1. Well balanced number of HMTs between the public and private sector O3.2. Applications from both public and private sectors for a second training course or for up-dates O3.3. Involvement of instructors from industry O3.4. Involvement of industry in the evaluation of the training course. O4. Empowering women: By giving priority to women trainees and a training program designed for women, this project will both recognize and showcase the importance of women in smallholder horticultural enterprise. Nutritional education and awareness, particularly amongst women, will address the overarching concerns of malnutrition and food insecurity. Outputs: O4.1. High proportion of young women in the HMT training courses O4.2. Dedicated content to promote gender equity O4.3. Involvement of female instructors O4.4. Involvement of women in the evaluation of the training course

1.6 Recipient’s Implementation Procedures GlobalHort will follow its internal regulation manual for personnel management and will adapt its project management guidelines developed for previous project (results based management). GlobalHort will initiate collaborative cooperation with its partners as a coordinator with a project manager recruited on that purpose. The project manager will be assisted by the webmaster of GlobalHort for all communication aspects. Training partners and educators will be contributing according to a consultancy basis, considering their full costs and expenses and also an in-kind contribution of their respective organization. The contents and materials of all training sessions shall be free of rights following creative commons licence.

1.7 Implementing Partners and Implementation Agreements Implementation agreements, both formal and informal, are being discussed with many potential partners. Key partners will include: • Horticulture Development Council of Tanzania: Agreement from the Ministry of Agriculture to provide candidates for HMT training that are employees of Tanzanian Ministries (Agriculture, Trade, Research, Education, Health, Industry) and will subsequently take up positions in horticulture extension focused on the needs of smallholders, one or more lecturers (Sokoine University of Agriculture). • Tanzanian Horticulture Association (TAHA): Member of the Horticulture Council of Africa (HCA), Agreement to provide candidates for HMT training that are employees of industries and will continue in their position in horticulture focused on the needs of smallholders. • Horticulture Council of Africa: As above at regional level. • Horti-Tengeru (also hosting the World Vegetable Center – Regional Center for Africa) Arusha, Tanzania: Contract for the provision of student housing, lecture hall, access to field and farm experiments, one or more lecturers. • Horticultural Crops Development Agency (HCDA): As above for Kenya. • Uganda Ministry of Agriculture: As above. • Rwanda Ministry of Agriculture: As above. • East Africa Farmer’s Association: For help in identifying candidates for HMT training who are employed by farmers’ groups, cooperatives or other associations of smallholders in East Africa. • ASARECA: Regional association for strengthening agricultural research in Eastern and Central Africa for help in identifying candidates for HMT training who are employed in innovation processes (industry or NGOs) in East Africa. • RUFORUM: Regional association of universities, help in identifying candidates for HMT training, one or more lecturers.

1.8 Recipient’s Monitoring and Evaluation Approach Overall leadership of this Project will be provided by the Executive Secretary of GlobalHort and a project manager, living and working in Tanzania, will coordinate and monitor the training. He/she will also organize and lead the pre-planned evaluation efforts during and after the training. Result based management of this project means that the expected outputs will be assessed along the projects till its completion. Indicators for sustainable linkages between trainees beyond the training period are the most crucial ones to characterize and revise the project for scaling up.

1.9 Other Sources of Funding for the Project All other contributions will be ‘in kind’ and will come from the un-paid participation of GlobalHort partners in the development and delivery of this course of study. In agreement with IFAD the present proposal will be submitted to various donors in order to seek sponsorship or traineeship for the candidates (equipment with laptop).

Please contact [mailto:rkahane@globalhort.org Remi Kahane], Interim GlobalHort Executive Secretary, for more information.