National Agricultural Policy
Center (NAPC)
Rural Development Division
(RDD)
Presentation Structure
• RDD concept, roles, objectives and
composition;
• RDD workplan and main activities;
• The workplan adjustment: reasons and
modifications;
• Carried out and currently processed activities;
• Issue of concern.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
2
What is RDD
• NAPC Division
• RDD Mission
Focus on: people livelihood;
rural-other sectors’ relations.
RDD Approach:
Sustainable Livelihoods (DFID)
analyzing assets (pentagon capital);
analyzing people strategies.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
3
RDD Members and Topics
• Samira Al-Zoughbi: rural poverty and inequality in
rural areas;
• Wedad Shhadeh: migration and rural-urban
relationships;
• Raid Hamzeh: non-farm activities in rural areas;
• Firas Yassin: natural resources and the environment;
• Firas Haydar: Infrastructure and other investments;
• Samira Subh: women’s role in agriculture and related
gender issues;
• Abeer Manla Hasan: sustainable livelihood approach
to rural development.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
4
2005 RDD Workplan
Supervision of Prof. Donato Romano
Objectives
– Organizing the RDD and start its activities;
– Developing staff skills, enhancing their competence
and knowledge, facilitating the formation of a
homogeneous research team;
– Carry out the institutional and research activities
pertaining to RDD as per the NAPC 2005 workplan.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
5
Skills Development Activities
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•
•
•
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Personal readings;
Synthesizing selected readings;
Reconstituting the research process behind a paper;
Evaluating Internet resources for research purposes;
Drafting of policy notes, briefs and review papers;
Personal work program;
Organization and conduct of research work.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
6
Outputs of Personal Readings
one each member for a total of
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•
•
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7 Review Papers, due by February 2005;
7 internal Seminars, due in March 2005;
7 Rural Development Briefs, due by March 2005;
7 Policy Briefs, due by April 2005;
Plus:
• 1 or more Policy Notes, due by May 2005.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
7
Research and Institutional
Activities
• Periodic reports (no specialized periodic reports)
– SOFAS – The State of Food and Agriculture in Syria, 2006;
– SAS-MTR – Mid-term Review of the Syrian Agriculture
Strategy, 2005.
• Thematic studies
– Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and their Impact
on Agriculture, May 2005;
– Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas: Determinants,
Indicators and Policies, September 2005;
– Farming Systems Study individual Working Papers.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
8
Workplan Adjustments
Recognizing time needs and other contraints, the
following adjustments have been agreed:
• Non-Agricultural Activities in Rural Areas and their
Impact on Agriculture, Sep 2005;
• Poverty and Migration Trends in Rural Areas:
Determinants, Indicators and Policies, 2006;
• 1 rural development briefs, 1 policy briefs and 1 policy
note comparative review from FS study
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
9
Activities Carried Out
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•
•
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Finalization of the FSS individual reports;
Evaluation of internet resources for research purposes;
Outline and drafting of review papers;
Four internal seminars of the review papers March
2005, the rest three will be presented during next
September.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
10
The Current Processing
Activities
• SAS-MTR : the mid-term review of the Syrian
Agriculture Strategy;
• Completion and finalizing the review papers;
• Preparing for the national workshop, Jun 2005:
preliminary discussion of the SAS-MTR;
• Publishing the Farming System individual reports.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
11
Issue of Concern
• Weak internet connections;
• Lack of related study and data for Syrian context for
most RDD’s topics;
• Insufficient data for SAS and the needs for more
efficient connection with MAAR.
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
12
Thank you for your
attention
Damascus, May 11, 2005
By Firas Yassin
13