Apply Now! AERC Organises a 3-day training workshop on contract farming for Non-State Actors in sub-Saharan Africa to take place on 25-27 October 2021

As part of its capacity building, AERC plans to offer a Three-day training workshop on contract farming arrangements for individuals working in Non-State Actors in sub-Saharan Africa to take place on 25-27 October 2021. The overall aim of the course is to help trainees understand the role of contract farming and to acquire skills to build and implement effective contract farming arrangements for Non-State Actors. This course is tailored to the specific needs of projects and programmes owned and/or run by Non- State Actors in smallholder farming with the aim of empowering them with relevant skills to build and maintain effective contract farming arrangements.

The participants will be drawn from non-state actors involved in smallholder agriculture. Non-state actors include civil society in all its forms, economic and social partners (trade unions and employers associations), agricultural value chain actors and the private sector. These actors have sufficient power to influence and cause a change and can aid in opinion building in international affairs, implementing partners at national level. Non-State Actors are therefore fundamental agents in helping to achieve both national and international development goals. The knowledge gained and skills acquired from this course is important for non-state actors and entrepreneurs involved in smallholder agriculture because effective contract farming can catalyse the business of agriculture by making smallholder producer activities viable. The training will be tailored to specific needs of non-state actors and aims to empower them to:

• Explain concepts associated with contract farming
• Describe the status of contract farming-with selected examples
• Identify diverse contract farming models and their appropriateness
• Discuss value chains with highest potential for contract farming 
• Assess the viability of contract farming arrangements
• Analyse the use of technology and ICTs in contract farming

• Demonstrate and understanding of legal elements of contract farming
• Identify risks, logistics and quality control issues and strategies to mitigate them

• Develop a framework for promoting effective communication and resolving conflicts

More information on the training is as follows:

1. AERC has planned for a virtual Workshop on 25-27 October 2021. 
2. The participants use their own computers (laptop) for the workshop.
3. The full set of materials prepared for the course will be shared with trainees through online platforms.
4. Training will consist of two daily sessions. The morning will run from about 09.00-11.00 hrs. The afternoon session will run from 2:00-4:00hrs.

The Call for Expression of Interest

This is a call for expression of interest for Non-State Actors to participate in a three- day AERC organized technical workshop on contract farming arrangements. Participation is open to community-based organizations, women’s groups, NGOs, religious organizations, farmers’ cooperatives, research institutes, and the private sector enterprises involved in smallholder agriculture. Others include informal groups such as grassroots organizations, informal private sector associations among others.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify to participate in the workshop, one should meet the following requirements:

• Applicant should be an employee or representative of a Non-State Actor organisation.
• Hold a minimum of a diploma or equivalent qualification in development, agriculture or related areas.
• Provide a letter of support from her/his institute/organization supporting participation in the workshop.
• Submit updated Curriculum Vitae. 

Application Process

• Interested candidates should send their expression of interest to AERC by 20th September 2021 using the email: research@aercafrica.org
• The expression of interest should explain why they should be selected and should not be more than five hundred (500) words.
• Women employees or representative of Non-State Actors are encouraged to apply.

Key dates

• Deadline for submission of applications: 20 September 2021
• Internal compiling and shortlisting: 21-24 September 2021
• Invitation of the successful applicants: 05 October 2021

Regards,

Nancy Muriuki

Programme Assistant – Research

African Economic Research Consortium,

MEBANK Towers, 3rd Floor, Jakaya Kikwete Road.

P.O. Box 62882-00200

Nairobi, Kenya.

Tel:   254- 020- 2734150/2734153

Fax:  254- 020- 2734170/2734173

Mobile: 254-722 205272; 254 733 333298

Source:

http://www.aercafrica.org