3RD TRAINING COURSE ON "PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISES FOR RURAL WOMEN"
The International Cooperative Alliance-Asia and Pacific [ICA-AP] in collaboration with the JA-ZENCHU [Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan] and the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia [IDACA] held the 3rd Training Course on “Promotion of Sustainable Enterprises for Rural Women” from 15th August to 20th September 2008 in the Philippines and Japan. The generous financial assistance was provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [MAFF] of the Government of Japan to conduct this program.
Twelve women participants – two each from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Philippines and Thailand attended the Training Course.
The main objectives of the Training Course were (a) to learn methods of enterprise development by rural women through case studies; (b) to study management methods of micro-enterprises by rural women; and (c) to learn methods of encouraging women to be involved in rural communities’ development.
The part-I of the program - Comparative Study Visits - was held in the Philippines from 15th to 24th August in collaboration with the National Confederation of Cooperatives [NATCCO], a member-organization of ICA.
The part-II of the program held at IDACA from 25th August to 20th September 2008 included extensive classroom work and study visits to agricultural cooperatives in Gifu Prefecture of Japan. Lecture-cum-practical field study visits assignments were combined to impart necessary knowledge to the participants on the working of women’s associations and the general activities of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. In view of the experience gained by the participants through class room lectures, field study visits in the Philippines and Japan, the participants were able to develop brief outlines of their Action Plans which they would be recommending to their respective organizations on return to their home countries.
An end-of-the Course Evaluation was conducted at the conclusion of the Training Course. A Certificate of Participation was awarded to each participant at the concluding session held at the IDACA in Tokyo on 19th September. The concluding session was attended by Mr. Toshiya Yamaguchi, Section Chief, International Cooperation Division, International Affairs Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF); Mr. Kenjiro Miyazaki, Managing Director of IDACA; Mr. K. Sethu Madhavan, Planning Officer/Program Coordinator, ICA–Asia and Pacific; and other senior officers of IDACA.
