Eliminating Rural Poverty: the Israel Development Experience
November 30 – December 11, 2008
Program Objective
How can we reduce rural poverty?
The international community chose reducing world poverty as the first Millennium Development Goal (MDG). What is striking is that three of every four poor people in developing countries are rural, 2.1 billion individuals below a $2 a day poverty line, one third of humanity. Most depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihoods. While agriculture is not the only instrument that can take them out of poverty, it is a highly effective source of growth for doing just that. But what is clear is that the first MDG will be met in developing countries only with a sharper focus on growth and development both in agriculture and in the associated rural non-agricultural economy. This integrated approach to rural development is needed to alleviate poverty, reduce migration from rural areas to urban slums, and confront rising rural-urban income disparities.
New challenges and new uncertainties make it urgent to act in order to take advantage of new opportunities as well as to put a halt to the trends which condemn contemporary rural populations to abject poverty. Opportunities originate in a dynamic market-driven “new agriculture” led by high value activities. They originate in major institutional and technological innovations and in new roles for the state, for private actors, and for people centered enterprises in using agriculture and non-agricultural micro and small enterprises (SME) more effectively for development. The challenge is to include smallholders in agricultural growth and to benefit the rural poor through agricultural and rural non farm employment.
Why study rural development policies in Israel?
Implementing tailored rural development agendas requires resource commitment and effective leadership. The development of agricultural and non agricultural rural enterprises, while driven by the market, depends heavily on public support. Improving governance and engaging society are thus critical to pursue an integrated rural development strategy. Successful implementation requires putting in place mechanisms for the formulation of sound agriculture and SME development
strategies, public sector management for effective delivery and accountability, decentralization that enhances the support to agriculture and rural SMEs, and community roles to coordinate the process of growth, poverty reduction, and community empowerment.
Rural poverty has been eliminated in Israel through the coherent implementation of such a coordinated and integrated approach to rural economic and social development. The central focus of the course will be to present the successful Israeli experience as well as other international best-practice examples. Participants will have the opportunity to formulate ideas and policies which may be applicable to their own countries while sharing experiences with colleagues from around the world.
Program
The course includes frontal lectures, workshops, study visits to relevant institutions and organizations as well as three days of cultural and historic tours.
The main topics to be covered include:
- Strategies of development
- Agricultural developments in the 21st century
- Contribution of SMEs and cooperatives to the economy, society and the individual
- The role of SMEs and cooperatives in rural development
- Leadership and management in rural communities
- Appropriate agricultural policy in the era of globalization
- Post-harvest processing and marketing cooperatives
- Micro-finance and rural development
- Effective rural extension services
- Establishing and managing comprehensive support systems for SMEs and cooperatives - the central and local/regional levels
- Local/regional-level Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
- Regional cooperation as a strategy of rural development
- Entrepreneurship in contemporary agriculture
- Integrating financial and non-financial(consulting, training) support measures
- Linking rural producers to global markets
- The role of local, regional and national governments in successful rural development
The program is run by two world renowned experts: Shmuel Bahat, a specialist in SME promotion and Rafi Goldman, a specialist in cooperatives and rural enterprise management.
Who Should Attend:
The course is designed for senior staff of government ministries involved in economic, industrial and social development, senior staff of regional and local governments, cooperative management teams, entrepreneurial ,SME and cooperative support and promotion agencies, banks and development finance institutions, leaders of chambers of commerce and SME associations, non-governmental economic and social associations (NGOs), economists, business consultants and trainers.
Applicants must have good communication skills in English.
Program Site
Most of the program will be held in the in the facilities of NISPED, which are located in the Golden Tulip Hotel in Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev (southern Israel). Each room is equipped with air conditioning and its own shower and bathroom. There is a health club available to NISPED's guests.
Duration and Language
The Program will last 12 days between the 30th of November and the 11th of December, 2008.
It is scheduled to officially open on the afternoon of November 30th.
Participants are requested to arrive November 29th or the morning of November 30th (Accommodation prior to these dates is problematic).
The language of instruction will be English.
Fees and Scholarships
The total fee is Euro 2,850. The NISPED Scholarship Fund will provide scholarships of up to Euro 750 to participants from developing countries. This fee covers all in-country costs including tuition, background material, full room and board (single rooms, breakfast, lunch, dinner and coffee/tea break), all inland transportation, study visits, visits to cultural and historical places, health insurance and transfer from and to the airport.
Candidates interested in applying for a partial scholarship must submit the scholarship application form available at our website.
Health Insurance
Medical insurance covers medical services and hospitalization in case of emergency. It does not cover the treatment of chronic diseases, dental care other than first aid, or repair of eyeglasses. Candidates using specific medications on a regular basis must bring sufficient quantities for the duration of their stay.
Applications
The completed application, including the health form, must be submitted no later than November 7, 2008.
Clothing
Most days, casual clothing is appropriate. Temperatures usually range from 8 to 25 degrees Celsius during this time of year. For the closing ceremony and official visits, participants may want to bring something a little more formal. For those coming from countries that have a national costume, it is recommended to bring it.
Important also are: a bathing suit, sun hat, and comfortable walking shoes for excursions.
Passport and Visa
Passports must be valid for at least six months from the opening day of the course. Applicants must submit an official visa application form. The dates and flight numbers for the return trip to and from Israel must be confirmed before arrival.
