Deadline: 28-Oct-2024
The United Nations Development Programme has launched the Climate-Smart Agriculture Training Program to scale up the capacity building of farmers local communities, and agricultural stakeholders to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Purpose
- The training will focus on increasing agricultural productivity, building resilience to climate change, and facilitating market access to ensure long-term sustainability.
- The key objectives are:
- To introduce participants to the principles and practices of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), promoting productivity, resilience, and reduced environmental impact.
- To integrate value chain development into CSA training, ensuring that farmers can effectively engage in market-oriented farming and improve their economic opportunities.
- To improve understanding of the economic benefits of climate-smart practices through value addition, product diversification, and strong market linkages.
- To guide participants through the organic certification process, providing them access to premium markets while maintaining sustainable agricultural practices.
- To support farmers and local stakeholders in transitioning to climate-resilient, sustainable, and market-oriented farming systems that enhance both climate resilience and livelihoods.
Scope of Work
- The training will target the following areas:
- Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices
- Introduction to CSA principles: understanding productivity improvement, adaptation to climate change, and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
- CSA techniques, including:
- Conservation agriculture (minimum tillage, crop rotation, cover crops).
- Agroforestry and integrated crop-livestock systems.
- Water-efficient irrigation methods (drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting).
- Climate-resilient crop varieties and soil fertility management, including local gene banks.
- Sustainable pest management practices and organic farming methods.
- Agro-ecological approaches to enhance land productivity, biodiversity, and reduce environmental impacts.
- Management of post-harvest losses through sustainable storage solutions, such as seed banks, and improved processing techniques.
- Sustainable livestock practices, promoting fodder management, rotational grazing, and feed efficiency.
- Value Chain Development
- Overview of the agricultural value chain: understanding the different components from input suppliers to end markets.
- Identifying key actors and stages in the value chain, including input suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers.
- Role of farmers and producer groups in enhancing value-added activities, such as product processing, packaging, and branding.
- Strategies to improve market access for smallholder farmers, including connectivity to local, national, and regional markets.
- Financial management, understanding market pricing, and improving negotiation skills to enhance income.
- Strengthening linkages with private sector partners, cooperatives, and community-based organizations to ensure a sustainable value chain.
- Promoting gender inclusion and empowerment in value chains, focusing on the roles of women and youth in agricultural production, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
- Organic Certification Process
- Overview of organic farming principles and the benefits of organic certification.
- Organic certification standards and requirements (both national and international).
- Step-by-step process for obtaining organic certification, including:
- Soil health management and the avoidance of synthetic inputs.
- Documentation and record-keeping for organic certification compliance.
- Inspections and audits required for certification.
- Identifying certification bodies and the costs associated with the organic certification process.
- Market opportunities and value addition through the production and sale of organic products.
- Maintaining compliance with organic standards and addressing common challenges faced during organic farming and certification.
- Gender-responsive climate action
- Gender gaps in the agriculture sector
- Gender-responsive climate smart agriculture
- Stakeholder analysis and gender-sensitive needs-assessment to understand the specific needs and priorities of men and women
- Livelihood analysis and proposals that looks at women’s and men’s access to resources.
- Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) Practices
Funding Information
- Size of grant: USD 50,000
Locations and Beneficiaries
- Targeted Participants: 200 representatives of smallholder farmers, local farmers’ organizations, and other agri-food stakeholders (eg from local markets), including women and youth.
- Townships: Bogale, Pyapon, Nyaung-U, and Taunggyi, Kalaw Townships.
- Country: Myanmar
Main Activities and Outputs
- Output 1: Inception Report including Training Sessions Designed and plan for Delivery
- Detailed Training Agenda and modules: A well-structured schedule of training sessions, including objectives, topics to be covered (CSA practices, value chain development, organic certification, and gender-responsive approach), and time allocation for each module.
- Training Manuals and Presentations: Comprehensive training materials, including slide presentations, handouts, and technical guides, covering CSA principles, value chain strategies, and organic certification processes. Each training module should contain group exercises, and specific cases for different geo-climatic areas.
- Practical Guides: Step-by-step instructional materials on implementing CSA techniques, value chain mapping, and obtaining organic certification, adjusted to each geo-climatic region.
- Field Demonstration Plans: Developed and executed field demonstrations on CSA techniques for different geo-climatic areas (such as water-efficient irrigation, conservation agriculture, or organic farming practices).
- Output 2: Deliver Training Sessions (one session per geo-climatic region) where each session may take a period of one week, targeting at least 40 participants per session).
- Training Session Reports: Documentation of each session delivered, including the number of participants, key topics discussed, and learning outcomes.
- Participant Attendance Records: A log of participant attendance at each session to ensure full engagement throughout the program.
- Resource Distribution Records: Documented distribution of printed or digital materials provided to all participants, ensuring they have the necessary resources for continued learning.
- Output 3: Final Report
- Engagement and Feedback Reports: Summaries of participant interaction, feedback, and active involvement in discussions, identifying key areas of interest or concern.
- Q&A Sessions and Resolutions: Documentation of questions raised by participants and the corresponding solutions or guidance provided by facilitators.
- Participant Satisfaction Surveys: Post-training feedback surveys to assess the quality of the sessions, the relevance of the materials, and the overall satisfaction with the training.
- Evaluation of Learning Outcomes: Pre- and post-training assessments to measure knowledge acquisition and understanding of the topics covered.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Partner organization will be responsible for:
- Design and deliver training sessions on CSA, value chain development, and organic certification, with a gender-responsive approach.
- Develop and distribute training materials to participants.
- Providing technical expertise and resources for the implementation of CSA practices.
- Provide technical expertise and facilitate discussions and field demonstrations.
- Facilitating the training sessions and field demonstrations.
- Ensure active engagement from all participants and address questions or challenges raised during the sessions.
- Engaging local communities and stakeholders in the program activities.
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress and impact of the training program
Eligibility Criteria
- Legal Status
- Certificate of registration/incorporation i.e.,
- Proof of registration in Country of Origin.
- Proof of registration of Country of operation
- Proof of country operational presence
- Organization profile and details
- Clear organization profile and structure of the organization indicating:
- Management structure
- Members of the Governing Board and their Designations duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, or its equivalent document
- Financial Capacity
- Audited company financial statements and auditors report for the last two years
For more information, visit UNDP.