Posted June 2001

Country Thematic Groups

The Group has helped WFP in food-for-work interventions, implemented a rapid rural appraisal mission to estimate food aid needs and prepared a study assessing the feasibility of the alternative ways to target food aid in the country. In late 2000, the Thematic Group turned its attention to enhancing collaboration between the four agricultural training centres in the country. While every centre focuses on their own particular areas of expertise in agriculture, agroforestry, livestock and rural development, it was recognized that there was a need for strengthening inter-organizational links and collaboration to reinforce national competence in agricultural training.

The Thematic Group organized a three-day field trip to four agricultural centres to determine their current status and activities, identify constraints faced by staff and to establish a mechanism for supporting the activities of these centres in a coordinated manner. As a follow-up to the field trip, the Thematic Group took the initiative of bringing together staff of the four agricultural training centres at a Consultative Forum (Jenoi Training Centre, 27-28 February 2001). The event resulted in the drafting of a work and co-operation plan, whose activities include the establishment of a network (the Gambia Agricultural Training Centres Network), which would meet bi-annually to share information and work towards common goals; a databank of resource centres; the publication of a newsletter; and the production of radio programmes drawing on contributions and input from all the agricultural centres in the Gambia.

One of the proposed activities for the Thematic Group in the Gambia will be the preparation of a catalogue of potential donors to support the further development of agricultural training centres in the country.

For further information, contact: FAO-GMB@field.fao.org