When a disaster strikes, the emergency response addresses immediate basic needs. Longer term assessments then pave the way for reconstruction. Often, in this longer term process, the real needs of fisherfolk and fishing communities are not met or respected. In fact, they can actually be undermined through the well-meaning, yet unsuitable, provision of vessels, fishing gear and landing sites and infrastructure.

FAO’s ‘Fisheries and Aquaculture Response to Emergency’ (FARE) training package course addresses this very issue. FARE is a tailored effort to specifically bring together fisheries officers and disaster risk reduction specialists to ensure the fisheries’ perspective in embedded and included in longer term response. 

This training package was originally developed by FAO (Food & Agriculture Organisation) and piloted in 2015. We have been working with FAO Fisheries department in Rome since late 2017, supporting the revision and improvement of the FARE training course and associated Training of Trainers. This important and interesting work directly links to our support to sustainable development goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 14 (Life below Water).

Under the FAO CC4Fish project, the revised  FARE course was recently piloted in Grenada in the Caribbean. Chris and Silvia worked with trainers from the University of West Indies and the Grenada Red Cross to facilitate the 3-day FARE course and the associated FARE Training of Trainers. The project enabled fisheries officers and disaster risk reduction specialists from 6 countries to work together, share experiences and perspectives, and understand how to best implement best practice outlined in two key FAO publications Fisheries and aquaculture emergency response guidance? and Guidelines for the fisheries and aquaculture sector on damage and needs assessments in emergencies .

The aim was to foster a cohort of regional FARE trainers able to deliver the FARE course nationally and in the region, and who can support the assessment and planned response to any emergency affecting the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in the Caribbean.

Our innovative, hands-on continuous mini-session practice during the Training of Trainers allowed participants to practice presentation and facilitation skills using the very FARE materials they had been introduced to in the previous 3 day FARE course. Not only did they become familiar with content and methods, but they also worked in their country teams to develop country strategies for taking FARE forward in their countries and in the region. 

We look forward to supporting FAO in 2019 in taking this important FARE training package to other regions affected by disasters.

The Botswana National Productivity Centre (BNPC) was established in 1993 with the overall objective of “promoting increased productivity, improving standards of management and labour-management relations, and stimulating productivity consciousness in Botswana.” In line with supporting Botswana Vision 2036 and the National Development Plan (NDP) 11, BNPC has taken the deliberate decision to build its internal Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) capacity. Two key staff took part in our M&E for Results course in Cape Town 2018, and following on from this we designed a week-long M&E training and an associated Training of Trainers. Silvia Capezzuoli and Daisy Macdonald facilitated these events at BNPC.

The 5-day M&E workshop at BNPC brought together 25 internal consultants, researchers and support staff to better understand collectively how M&E practice can be improved within the organisation. A sense of common purpose was fostered across roles and responsibilities, with participants really valuing the sharing of internal experience; the opportunity to maximise programmatic connections and the organisational investment. “Happy, exhilarated, excited, motivated, energised, full of possibility, equipped….” are a few of the sentiments expressed towards the end of the workshop. A resounding sentiment was the desire to apply the learning to BNPC projects, at respective levels.

12 participants continued onto the 3-day associated Training of Trainers, which further built their capacity in multiple ways: supporting the practice of M&E internally in BNPC; providing M&E guidance to clients; supporting BNPC strategic planning through developing collective theories of change; enhancing internal training and facilitation skills. The group developed an ‘M&E Champions wall’ to really consolidate their understanding of the purpose of M&E, and why it is needed in the organisation. As a part of a visioning exercise, the group elaborated a vision for M&E in BNPC, and developed a collective action plan with individual commitments and timeframes to embed M&E in working practice, and identified what else is needed in order to embed M&E in BNPC. This collective plan now forms the basis for taking M&E forward, including the planned development of an organisational M&E framework.  

Great sharing on our last day of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) Training of Trainers, near Tarcoles, on Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The 6 participating Latin America and Caribbean country teams presented solid strategies for supporting the development/revision of pilot site fisheries management plans. Coaching provided by REBYC II-LAC project coordinator, senior lecturer from University of West Indies, Chris Grose and Silvia Capezzuoli.

Learn more about EAFM here...
http://www.eafmlearn.org/

Evidence from around the world shows that a broader understanding of Social Protection, encompassing universal elements, rather than a poverty focus, ultimately contributes not only to enhancing economic and social well being, but also contributes directly to more cohesive societies. The mindset shift is to move from a benefit approach to one of entitlements as citizens.

Last week Silvia Capezzuoli lead on facilitating a week-long WFP-funded training initiative for enhancing social protection in Kenya, with content developed and presented by Development Pathways. This training of trainers (TOT) was the starting point of a WFP-supported Learning and Development programme supporting the Social Protection Secretariat (SPS) core national team to advocate for broader social protection in Kenya.

We created an environment where SPS staff felt comfortable with and debated new content. Most importantly, we ensured participants practised delivering actual mini-sessions to familiarise themselves with all materials and skills needed to facilitate the 2-day social protection course themselves as they move forward.