Transcript Education for Rural People (ERP). The role of Education, Training and Capacity Development in Food Security and Poverty Reduction. , Lavinia Gasperini FAO Senior Officer,

Education for Rural People (ERP). The role of
Education, Training and Capacity Development
in Food Security and Poverty Reduction.
,
Lavinia Gasperini
FAO Senior Officer, Agricultural Education,
Office of the Director of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension (OEKD)
"Broadening coherence and collaboration for rural development through
employment and decent work"
Rome, 14 November 2011
Underlying Premise
Investments in education, training,
and capacity development are
essential prerequisites to reducing
poverty, increasing food security
and RD.
Rural undernourished
Rural illiterates
70% of the 925 millions =
647 millions
70 % of the 863 millions=
604 millions
The majority of the
undernourished people are
illiterate and vice versa.
ERP Objectives
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Put ERP high in the national and
international agenda to reach the MDGs.
Foster public private partnership to
advocate for ERP to be included in the
plan of action of Rio 2012
Strengthening national capacity to
implement education programs to address
learning needs of rural people with the aim
to overcome the urban-rural education
gap.
MDGs
Food
Security
Poverty
Reduction
Education
ERP
Gender
Equity
Environment
UNESCO
Ministries
of
Education
Ministries
of
Agriculture
FAO
Donors
and
Int’l.
Orgs
Civil
Society
NGOs
Presentation
10 Challenges
10 Cases
Challenge # 1
Effective Pro-rural
Policies
• Motivating policy and resource allocation to
favor rural citizens
• Capacity development for planning ERP at
societal (macro), institutional and individual level.
Case # 1
Effective Prorural Policies
11 African Countries (Rome, 29 November 2007)
“Food security and poverty reduction strategies are
directly dependent on our capacity to foster rural
children's access to quality primary education.”
Challenge # 2

Organizational and
Institutional Efficiency
Coordination among MoE, MoAg, extension,
schools, NGOs and the private sector is essential
for optimal efficiency
Case # 2
Organizational and
Institutional Efficiency
Kosovo
National strategy for ERP developed
through cooperation between agriculture
and education ministries
Local stakeholders involved:
- School personnel
- Farmers
- Women’s associations
Challenge # 3
Access to Education
and Training
• Removal of school fees
• Mobile extension staff
• School feeding programs
• Expansion of the education network
• School and training center construction
• Satellite schools in remote areas for young children
Case # 3
Access to Education
and Training
India
A private sector - government partners- to
provide school meals to 800,000 children
daily.
Meals increase school attendance,
especially among girls and improved
learning ability
- Uses locally grown produce
- Large centralized kitchens
- Meals distributed daily by truck
Challenge # 4
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Quality depends on:
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facilities
teachers
materials
evaluation
leadership
curriculum
community links
Quality of Education
and Training
Case # 4
Quality of Education
and Training
Uganda
Quality and relevance are linked
Agriculture is part of curriculum
Garden produce helps supply
school lunch program
The link between quality and
relevance, vital to increasing
appeal and utility of education for
rural people.
Challenge # 5
Decentralization and
Community Involvement
Decentralization of authority and responsibility for
education and training
The importance of high levels of community involvement
in determining appropriate education interventions
Case # 5
Decentralization and
Community Involvement
Cambodia
Formation of school committees of parents, teachers
and local leaders
Village based satellite schools for young children who
could not walk long distances
Parents provided the labor to build the school
Local residents trained as teachers
Challenge # 6
Gender Responsive
Learning Environments
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Girl friendly schools
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Safe accommodations for girls and women
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Flexible timetables
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Take-home food for girls
Case # 6
Gender Responsive
Learning Environments
Burkina Faso
A high percentage of girls do not finish primary
school
Girl friendly schools see enrolments soar in 132
communities
- separate toilet facilities
- girls who attend 90% or more of the time are
given take home rations
Challenge # 7
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Accommodating
Non-traditional Learners
refugees and displaced persons
people in inaccessible, remote areas
nomadic and pastoral communities
out-of-school youth
disabled persons
ethnic minorities
retired child soldiers
working children
Case # 7
Accommodating
Non-traditional Learners
Kenya
Non-traditional learning for children of pastoralist families
Classes take place after animals are penned for the night
allowing students to fulfill their duties managing the animals
Curriculum developed in consultation with parents, local
leaders and students
Multi-grade classes
Challenge # 8
Redefining
Agricultural Education
Fundamental changes needed in how
agricultural education is conceptualized
Agricultural education has simply not kept
up with the pace of our changing world
Case # 8
Redefining
Agricultural Education
Paraguay
Teaching entrepreneurship through agricultural education
Self sufficient, fully organic farm school
Teaches value added processing
Teaches life skills, agro-tourism, reproductive health
Challenge # 9
Skills Training for
Rural People
Skills needed to succeed in global, knowledge
economies
- Life skills
- Food production skills
- Self-employment skills
- Information Technology skills
Case # 9
Skills Training for
Rural People
Uganda
Capacity development, life skills training, income generating
activities
Community-based health and nutrition education
Use of trained volunteers to extend training throughout
community
Challenge # 10
Recruitment and
Retention of Extension
and School Staff
Difficulty in attracting and retaining extension
and school staff to rural areas
Case # 10
Recruitment and
Retention of Extension
and School Staff
Multiple countries
More attractive deployment policies:
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posting newly qualified staff in pairs
higher salaries
loan forgiveness
subsidized housing
better health care
access to land
What Will Success Look Like?
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Rural people will have the capacities to be people:
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engaged in knowledge-based economies
prepared to learn how to adapt and cope with to
globalization and market forces, climate change, food
crises and other shocks.
“We will work to increase public investments and
encourage private investment in the countrydeveloped plans for rural infrastructure and
support services, including- but not limited- to
roads, storage, irrigation, communication
infrastructure, education, technical support and
health.”
(Declaration of the World Summit on Food
Security, Rome, 2009)