CONCEPT NOTE
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON AGRICULTURAL RISK MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, POLICY AND MAINSTREAMING
COURSE BACKGROUND
The agricultural sector is inherently exposed to a wide array of risks, including climatic shocks, market volatility, pest and disease outbreaks, and policy changes. These risks pose significant threats to farmers’ livelihoods, agricultural productivity, and national food security. While various risk management tools exist, the primary challenge often lies in integrating them into comprehensive, multi-level strategies and effectively mainstreaming these approaches into broader agricultural policies and programs. Without a coordinated effort, risks can undermine development gains and perpetuate cycles of vulnerability within agrifood systems.
ECAS Institute, dedicated to building robust and resilient agricultural systems, recognizes the critical need for integrated Agricultural Risk Management (ARM). ECAS offers this training course to address the identified gap in strategic planning and implementation of ARM across different scales and stakeholder groups. By providing a structured framework and highlighting collaborative approaches, ECAS aims to empower professionals to design and operationalize ARM strategies that are both effective in mitigating risks and sustainable in the long run.
This course is specifically designed to unpack the complexities of agricultural risk, focusing on how various stakeholders within the agrifood system can collaborate to design and implement impactful ARM strategies. It will delve into the combination of different risk management tools and the importance of supportive policies and programs. Ultimately, ECAS aims to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to create a more resilient agricultural sector that can better withstand shocks and ensure food security for all.
COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Describe an Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) strategy at the farm (micro), local (meso), and national (macro) levels.
- Compare and select appropriate risk management tools to create effective ARM plans and strategies.
- Explain the roles and responsibilities of all major stakeholders in formulating and implementing ARM strategies.
- Understand how information systems, capacity development, and mainstreaming can contribute to making ARM strategies effective and sustainable.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This course will provide participants with a holistic understanding of Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) frameworks and their practical application. You will learn:
- How to conceptualize and describe ARM strategies tailored to different scales, from individual farms to national agricultural sectors.
- The process of evaluating and choosing suitable risk management tools to construct comprehensive ARM plans.
- The specific roles and collaborative responsibilities of diverse stakeholders, including farmers, policymakers, and service providers, in the ARM process.
- The essential role of supportive elements such as robust information systems, targeted capacity development, and strategic mainstreaming in ensuring the long-term effectiveness and sustainability of ARM initiatives.
DURATION AND PROGRAM
This is a structured training course. The program is organized into four comprehensive lessons, providing a systematic progression through the key aspects of agricultural risk management. The detailed program schedule, including session timings and interactive elements, will be communicated prior to the training commencement.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
The target audience for this course includes a diverse range of stakeholders crucial to the design and implementation of effective Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) services. Individuals who would especially benefit from taking this course include:
- Farmers, farm management advisors, farmer organizations and communities: Those directly impacted by agricultural risks and involved in farm-level decision-making.
- Policymakers and planners, and other government officials: Individuals responsible for creating and implementing national and sub-national agricultural policies and programs.
- Service and input providers and other intermediaries: Organizations and individuals dealing with agricultural risk management services, such as insurance providers, financial institutions, and extension services.
TRAINING MODULES
The course consists of four sequential lessons, each focusing on a critical dimension of Agricultural Risk Management:
| No | Module | Details | |
| 1. | Implementing Risk Management Strategy at the Farm Level (Micro) |
This introductory lesson explores how individual farmers and farm management units identify, assess, and implement risk management strategies to safeguard their livelihoods and production. It focuses on practical tools and decisions at the smallest scale of the agrifood system.
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| 2. | Implementing Risk Management Strategy at the Local Area Level (Meso) |
This module moves beyond the individual farm to examine how risk management strategies are developed and implemented at a collective or local area level. It addresses how communities, local governments, and organizations can collaborate to manage shared risks.
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| 3. | Implementing Risk Management Strategy at the National Level (Macro) |
This lesson broadens the scope to national-level agricultural risk management, focusing on the policy and programmatic frameworks that governments establish to address systemic risks. It covers how national strategies influence and support micro and meso-level efforts.
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| 4. | The Role of Government, Capacity Building and Mainstreaming of ARM |
The final module consolidates the learnings by detailing the overarching role of government, the importance of capacity development, and the process of mainstreaming ARM into broader agricultural and development agendas to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.
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TRAINING STYLE
The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.
The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.
The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.
GENERAL NOTES
- Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
- Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
- We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
- Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.
ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE
The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.