National Agricultural National Agricultural Policy Center (NAPC)Policy Center (NAPC)

Rural Development Rural Development Division (RDD)Division (RDD)

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 2

Presentation Structure Presentation Structure

• RDD concept, roles, objectives and RDD concept, roles, objectives and composition;composition;

• RDD workplan and main activities;RDD workplan and main activities;• The workplan adjustment: reasons The workplan adjustment: reasons

and modifications; and modifications; • Carried out and currently processed Carried out and currently processed

activities;activities;• Issue of concern.Issue of concern.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 3

What is RDDWhat is RDD

• NAPC DivisionNAPC Division• RDD MissionRDD Mission

Focus on:Focus on: people livelihood;people livelihood;

rural-other sectors’ relations. rural-other sectors’ relations.

RDD Approach:RDD Approach: Sustainable Livelihoods Sustainable Livelihoods

(DFID)(DFID)

analyzing assetsanalyzing assets (pentagon (pentagon capital);capital);

analyzing people strategies.analyzing people strategies.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 4

RDD Members and RDD Members and TopicsTopics

• Samira Al-Zoughbi:Samira Al-Zoughbi: rural poverty and rural poverty and inequality in rural areas;inequality in rural areas;

• Wedad Shhadeh:Wedad Shhadeh: migration and rural-urban migration and rural-urban relationships;relationships;

• Raid Hamzeh:Raid Hamzeh: non-farm activities in rural areas; non-farm activities in rural areas; • Firas Yassin:Firas Yassin: natural resources and the natural resources and the

environment;environment;• Firas Haydar:Firas Haydar: Infrastructure and other Infrastructure and other

investments;investments;• Samira Subh:Samira Subh: women’s role in agriculture and women’s role in agriculture and

related gender issues;related gender issues;• Abeer Manla Hasan:Abeer Manla Hasan: sustainable livelihood sustainable livelihood

approach to rural development.approach to rural development.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 5

2005 RDD Workplan2005 RDD Workplan

Supervision of Prof. Donato Supervision of Prof. Donato RomanoRomano

ObjectivesObjectives– Organizing the RDD and start its activities;Organizing the RDD and start its activities;– Developing staff skills, enhancing their Developing staff skills, enhancing their

competence and knowledge, facilitating the competence and knowledge, facilitating the formation of a homogeneous research team;formation of a homogeneous research team;

– Carry out the institutional and research Carry out the institutional and research activities pertaining to RDD as per the NAPC activities pertaining to RDD as per the NAPC 2005 workplan2005 workplan..

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 6

Skills Development Skills Development ActivitiesActivities

• Personal readings;Personal readings;• Synthesizing selected readings;Synthesizing selected readings;• Reconstituting the research process behind a Reconstituting the research process behind a

paper;paper;• Evaluating Internet resources for research Evaluating Internet resources for research

purposes;purposes; • Drafting of policy notes, briefs and review papers;Drafting of policy notes, briefs and review papers;• Personal work program;Personal work program;• Organization and conduct of research work.Organization and conduct of research work.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 7

Outputs of Personal Outputs of Personal Readings Readings

one each member for a total ofone each member for a total of• 7 Review Papers, due by February 2005;7 Review Papers, due by February 2005;• 7 internal Seminars, due in March 2005;7 internal Seminars, due in March 2005;• 7 Rural Development Briefs, due by 7 Rural Development Briefs, due by

March 2005;March 2005;• 7 Policy Briefs, due by April 2005; 7 Policy Briefs, due by April 2005;

Plus:Plus:

• 1 or more Policy Notes, due by May 20051 or more Policy Notes, due by May 2005..

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 8

Research and Research and Institutional ActivitiesInstitutional Activities

• Periodic reportsPeriodic reports (no specialized periodic (no specialized periodic reports)reports)– SOFAS – The State of Food and Agriculture in Syria, SOFAS – The State of Food and Agriculture in Syria,

2006;2006; – SAS-MTR – Mid-term Review of the Syrian SAS-MTR – Mid-term Review of the Syrian

Agriculture Strategy, 2005.Agriculture Strategy, 2005.

• Thematic studiesThematic studies – Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and their Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and their

Impact on Agriculture, May 2005;Impact on Agriculture, May 2005; – Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas: Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas:

Determinants, Indicators and Policies, September Determinants, Indicators and Policies, September 2005;2005;

– Farming Systems Study individual Working Papers.Farming Systems Study individual Working Papers.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 9

Workplan AdjustmentsWorkplan Adjustments

Recognizing time needs and other Recognizing time needs and other contraints, the following adjustments contraints, the following adjustments have been agreed:have been agreed:

• Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and their Impact on Agriculture, their Impact on Agriculture, Sep 2005;Sep 2005;

• Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas: Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas: Determinants, Indicators and Policies, Determinants, Indicators and Policies, 2006;2006;

• 11 rural development briefs, rural development briefs, 11 policy briefs and policy briefs and 11 policy note comparative policy note comparative reviewreview fromfrom FSFS studystudy

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 10

Activities Carried OutActivities Carried Out

• Finalization of the FSS individual reports;Finalization of the FSS individual reports;• Evaluation of internet resources for Evaluation of internet resources for

research purposes; research purposes; • Outline and drafting of review papers;Outline and drafting of review papers;• Four internal seminars of the review Four internal seminars of the review

papers March 2005, the rest three will be papers March 2005, the rest three will be presented during next September. presented during next September.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 11

The Current The Current Processing ActivitiesProcessing Activities

• SAS-MTR : the mid-term review of the SAS-MTR : the mid-term review of the Syrian Agriculture Strategy;Syrian Agriculture Strategy;

• Completion and finalizing the review papers; Completion and finalizing the review papers; • Preparing for the national workshop, Jun Preparing for the national workshop, Jun

2005: preliminary discussion of the SAS-2005: preliminary discussion of the SAS-MTR;MTR;

• Publishing the Farming System individual Publishing the Farming System individual reports.reports.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 12

Issue of ConcernIssue of Concern

• Weak internet connections;Weak internet connections;• Lack of related study and data for Syrian Lack of related study and data for Syrian

context for most RDD’s topics;context for most RDD’s topics;• Insufficient data for SAS and the needs for Insufficient data for SAS and the needs for

more efficient connection with MAAR.more efficient connection with MAAR.

Damascus, May 11, 2005 By Firas Yassin 13

Thank you for Thank you for your your

attentionattention