Date: 14-20 October 2019
Venue: Mandalay Region and Shan State, Myanmar
Fee: USD 2,500

*This course will be held in partnership with the Food Security Working Group of Myanmar

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The course is set in Myanmar where IIRR, in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada and the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), has established climate-smart villages in four different agro-ecological and socio-cultural settings: Chin Shakta, Delta Ma Sein, Shan Nyaung Shwe, and Dryland Htee Puu. This course is intended for professionals in the government, non-government organizations, and private sector working on agriculture, food security, and nutrition programs. This course uses an innovative “roving workshop” methodology developed by IIRR in the 1990s and tested in Guatemala, Kenya, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Course description

This course enables you to learn and reflect on strategies that make agriculture responsive to the nutritional needs of families and to the changing environment. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) concepts facilitate the development of innovations and adaptation measures, taking into consideration local capacities and resources. Moreover, the course will feature practices by local farmers who are already implementing adaptation practices.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture (NSA) concepts and approaches ensure that agriculture programs generate food security and nutrition outcomes at the household level. You will also be introduced to the the concept of Climate-Smart Villages (CSVs), which raises the awareness of farming communities on CSA’s technological, institutional, and policy options that can increase their resilience and productivity while reducing environmental foot prints.

Objectives

By the end of this course, you shall have:

• Gained thorough understanding of CSA and NSA concepts, principles and relevant approaches;
• Recognized the issues and impact of climate change to agricultural systems and rural communities;
• Acquired knowledge of participatory approaches in engaging communities to participate in community-based adaptation process; and
• Learned local adaptation practices implemented plus CSVs in 4 agro-ecological zones in Myanmar.

Methodology

This is a field-based learning with minimal classroom discussions. Participants will be exposed to the four different agro-ecological zones in Myanmar. These will be visited where you can interact with farmers, researchers, and innovators.

Module 1. Understanding Climate Smart Agriculture and Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture Concepts

The links between the development process, food insecurity and undernutrition, and the environment will be examined through conceptual frameworks. The role of agricultural systems in meeting the nutritional needs of families and communities will be explored.

Module 2. Designing Programs and Engaging Communities for CSA/NSA Work

You will have an overview of participatory approaches useful in enhancing and designing food security and nutrition innovations and programs in consideration of climate change challenges. You will visit CSVs to be exposed to different agricultural systems and to interact with farmers/innovators and researchers.

Module 3. Sustaining and Scaling CSA/NSA Programs

Different pathways to strengthen, sustain and scale up innovative CSA/NSA programs will be discussed. You will identify ways to utilize evidences to influence government policies and mainstream within the wider development sector.

Module 4. Action Planning

You will prepare an action plan identifying food security programs/activity taking into account your national or community’s food security context to strengthen people’s resilience in coping with threats to food security. Climate change adaptation and mitigation measures are to be integrated in the action plan.

Fees

The training fee is USD2500 and it covers the course materials, meals, single occupancy accommodation, fi eld visits, airport transfers, and local airfare (Yangon-Bagan, Shan- Yangon). Fees do not include international airfare, laundry, and incidental expenses.

Date

14-20 October 2019

*Participants are expected to arrive one day before the start of the training.

Location

Mandalay Region and Shan State, Myanmar

What they say…

The training is exemplary and challenging. If this course would be put into policy to improve the lives of our communities, especially those who are in the rural areas, it will hugely contribute to sustainable development. The new ideas and knowledge that we have learned here will be made into actions for I believe that it will help us in achieving our goals. – Ian Cliff Guzman, FACE, Inc.

The training course experience was splendid and it will linger in my mind for a very long time! The experiences and information I gathered during the training will be judiciously utilized in my local community for the betterment of the rural livelihood. – Anajekwu Victor O., Anambra FADAMA Office