PARM CD2 Training with UCAD

From the 9th to 13th of October 2017, Cheick Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD), in collaboration with other Senegalese Institutions delivered the pilot ARM training course (CD2) with the support of PARM and the participation of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAER). The course gathered participants from Cameroon, Niger, Mali, Togo and Cabo Verde.
The aim of the pilot ARM training course was to build a pool of ARM experts able to use the knowledge acquired to improve risk management in Senegal as well as in other countries in Africa, in order to train the farmers in the field. The Ministry of Agriculture, and UCAD University, is willing to develop a more advanced ARM training course in the future, as envisaged in the ARM Capacity Development Strategy for Senegal Extension Services.
MAER has identified the need to create a critical mass of knowledgeable and skilled workforce on agricultural risk management, especially within the extension service, to successfully implement appropriate ARM practices in Senegal.
To this end, PARM and Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar (UCAD) have been cooperating to:

• Implement a Training for Trainers on agricultural risk management (ARM);
• Establish a working partnership with other Senegalese Institutions (including Université Gaston Berger UGB, Université de Thies/ENSA, ISRA, MAER, etc.) to foster training and capacity development in the area of ARM in Senegal and West Africa at large;
• Improve the generation, access and sharing of knowledge and learning on holistic agricultural risk management at national and regional/continental level;
• Build a pool of national ARM experts that are able to use the knowledge acquired to improve risk management in Senegal and train other stakeholders.
• Develop a framework for integration of ARM aspects in the study programs of UCAD or other Institutions that could be in charge of training extension service;
• Develop ARM training material in French.

The CD2 ARM training organized, developed and delivered by UCAD in collaboration with other Senegalese Institutions was well conducted. Considering the interest of MAER to institutionalize this type of activity in Senegal, PARM and UCAD are working together to develop a strategy for its sustainability that will include a financial plan and identification of potential donors.

PARM CD3 Training with MAER

Two CD3 trainings were organized at MAER on the 16th and 17th of October, 2017 and delivered by PARM consultants that elaborated the Feasibility Studies on Access to Information (CIRAD) and Remittances (RMDA).

These two training activities are meant to inform and bring stakeholders, who would be interested to invest on the tools.

The training on Access to Information delivered on 16th October, by CIRAD  was a presentation on information to manage agricultural risks with an overview of the Senegalese framework, highlighting the need to have accessible and understandable information, and the role of management and extension service in providing such information.

The training on Remittances was delivered on 17th October by  RMDA, where the objectives of the study were recalled,  the methodology used was explained as well as the findings on the field and potential areas of intervention.