Not-for-Profit * Humanitarian * Development * Agriculture * Training
The past decade has seen a growing interest in the role of governance in stimulating development and poverty reduction. The increased focus on decentralization reforms and good local governance is explained by its potential contribution to improving social service delivery, natural resources management, and local economic development, all factors that are important for achieving the MDG’s and improving rural livelihoods.
Democratic decentralization, as well as other public sector reforms change governance relations between the central and the local level and between actors at the local level. They provide opportunities for establishing new forms of more horizontal collaboration and accountability. Local government may create a forum where (customary) authorities, community based organizations, NGOs, the private sector and central government branches meet, interact and work together. As this is new “territory” for most stakeholders, approaches are needed to facilitate multi stakeholder processes, learning and institutional innovation at the local level. A specific focus on the inclusion of marginalized groups is required to enhance equity of local development outcomes.
The course covers recent thinking about decentralization, local governance and participatory and inclusive rural development and introduces the most up-to-date methodologies and approaches for the facilitation of multi stakeholder processes, social learning and change.
The aim of this course is to strengthen the capacity of development practitioners, policymakers, government line ministry staff and programme managers, to engage in complex local governance processes. As a result of the course, the participants will be able to:
Analyse the institutional context of decentralization and local governance with a specific focus on multi stakeholder analysis, gender and power relations.
Develop strategies to improve the involvement of different actors in local governance and rural development (including social service delivery, natural resource management, economic development, conflict management).
Practice a broad range of methodologies and approaches to support social learning, lobby and advocacy, citizenship and participation.
Challenge the impact of one’s own intervention and identify opportunities to contribute to change.
The course is highly interactive and builds on the participants’ own experiences and cases. There will be active discussions, group assignments, role plays and mini-seminars. The participants will undertake fieldwork to explore a real-life multi-stakeholder process. A wide range of methodologies and tools will be used by working on specific case-studies. The course facilitators follow a flexible programme that allows adaptation to the specific needs of individuals and the group. Efforts have recently been made to involve the Toronto municipality policy makers in the discussion forum. Participants will also be able to meet Toronto Councilliors and if possible Mayor of Toronto in active discussions and chattings for possible networkings and collaborations.
The course is designed for people who are involved in governance processes in a rural environment in Africa. It is suitable for government officials of different levels, project and programme managers, policy makers, consultants, NGO staff, staff from federations of community organizations or private sector organizations. Candidates should meet the following requirements:
Relevant tertiary education
At least five years of experience in governance, decentralization processes or rural development programmes
Competence in English language.
The main topics of the course are:
Introduction to local governance; exploring underlying development paradigms and different perspectives. Investigating institutional trends and linkages between public sector reform, rural development, decentralization and devolution, privatization, strengthening and civil society, aid assistance, sector-wide approaches and MDG’s
Multi-stakeholder and institutional analysis. This explores the roles of different actors and their relationships. It deals with issues of social inclusion, gender equity and participation in decision making, planning, monitoring and evaluation
Change management strategies and models and application of analysis tools in a real-life case study
Facilitation of dialogue, interaction and partnerships between local governments, civil society organizations and the private sector in service delivery and local economic development; exploring accountability mechanisms and tools
Social learning and facilitation tools and preparation of a personal action plan aimed at strengthening one’s organizations position, roles and actions in local governance and rural development.
Other Side Attraction discussions
Relevance of local governance for poverty reduction
Key policy issues in local governance and poverty reduction
Strategies and approaches for promoting local governance
Best practices in local governance processes
Problems, challenges and compelling realities
Recommendations for more effective development cooperation
This 10-day course will be held in Toronto, Canada from August 10 - 17, 2009.
The course fee is Seven thousand five hundred ($7500) USD, which includes training fees, training materials, excursions, food, accommodations and closing dinner.
There are no fellowships available for this course at this time.
Participants will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance upon the succesful completion of the course.
Training Facilitators/Lecturers
1.) Dr. Fahim Quadir (Associate Professor)
Division of Social Science & Graduate Program Director,
Development Studies Department
York University,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada
2.) Associate Prof. Sulochana Nair
Head, Department of Development Studies
Faculty of Economics and Administration
University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3.) Ms. Onome Ako (Consultant)
World Vision Canada
Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada
4.) Dr. Larry A. Swatuk
Director, International Development Program,
Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
5.) Professor Djamel Eddine Laouisset
The President,
Canadian Center for Training & Consulting, Inc
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Applications should be submitted electronically or hard copy to CEFARD Canada office.
The application deadline is June 15, 2009.
The full fee payment should be received by July 15, 2009
Please send the following documents:
A completed application form
An up-to-date curriculum vitae
Completed application should be sent to:-
1.) By email attachment to info@cefard.org
2.) By post to: -
CEFARD Secretariat,
3-1850 Albion Road,
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada, M9W 7B6
3) By fax to: +1 416 674 5790
CONCLUSION
CEFARD welcomes collaboration with other agencies in conducting non-degree programs, customized to the needs of interested clienteles. Other than its core and special courses, the non-degree programs may include seminars, workshops, study tours, or a combination of two or more activities in development-related topics, organic agriculture, Local Economic Development, Planning and Implementing Community and Rural Development Programmes, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
Please be aware that any proposed training programme MUST lead to capacity building of the intended participants for wealth creation in order to alleviate poverty in fulfilling the mandate of the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations. This is the core mission of CEFARD
Interest for collaboration must be expressed at least two months before the start of training implementation. We are large enough to handle your biggest order, and small enough to concentrate on your individual needs. We are not limited by the distance of your training venue. Details could be found at the collaboration section on our website at www.cefard.org.
For Further information please Contact:-
The Programme Director,
CEFARD, Toronto, Canada
Office No:- +1 416-679-1125
Cell No:- +1 647-835-6112
Fax No:- +1 416-674-5790
E-mail: info@cefard.org
Website: www.cefard.org
“CEFARD----------Sowing seeds of self-sustainability”