During the first phase of the training, each participant prepares him-/herself by doing certain individual work in the home country.
The second phase is an intensive training period, mainly held in the County of Värmland, Sweden, but usually with a study tour to Uppsala and Stockholm.
The third phase consists of individual work "back home", with some feedback from the training managers.
The fourth phase, again an intensive training period, takes place in either an African or an Asian country. (In the past, this part of the training has been held in Thailand when in Asia and in Uganda or Kenya when in Africa.)
Training language: English
Dates: 4 weeks in July-August + 2 weeks in January-February. (These are the two intensive training periods. Please, note that it is expected that participants will carry out individual studies outside these training sessions.)
Duration: 4 + 2 weeks of intensive training, individual work inbetween.
Cost: The course fees, food and accommodation, insurance while in Sweden as well as transport costs to the training session in an Asian or African country are all covered by The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Participants, or their nominating organisations, need to cover the air fare to Sweden, visa costs and personal travel insurance.
Target groups and admission requirements: The program is intended for managers, or people in equivalently influential positions, in regional or national government institutions or in the private sector, including NGOs, working with agricultural support and development. The applicant should have a position which allows him/her to become a key actor and to play an influential role in the development of organic agriculture in the home country. Women are encouraged to apply. As the focus of the training alters between Asia and Africa, every second year it will only be open to candidates from either Asia or Africa, according to information on the Grolink webpage: www.grolink.se/Projects/OAD/OAD-Training.htm.
Training objectives:The general aim of the program is to create conditions for quantitative as well as qualitative development of organic agriculture in the countries covered by the program.
The objectives of the training are that the participants will:
- Obtain basic knowledge of organic agriculture
- Understand the importance of support institutions in the fields of marketing, extension, education and certification, as well as producers’ organizations, for the development of organic agriculture and be able to actively take part in the development of such institutions
- Become familiar with the resources available and get a network of contacts
- Understand the market conditions for organic products
- Become familiar with project planning and design
- Be
able to plan and implement an organic agriculture development project
in the participant’s home country, on a local, regional or national
level
Contact details:
Post address: Grolink, Torfolk, SE-684 95 Höje, Sweden
E-mail: doa@grolink.se
Phone: +46-563-723 45
Fax: +46-563-720 66