Thursday, February 3, 2011

Claude Bourdin, coordinator of the International Farmers’ Dialogue, and Fiacre Sengati, project manager, spent one week in Rwanda in December 2010, to coordinate with Rwandan colleagues preparations for two events.

For the first in March, we have invited 30 people working with Farmers’ Dialogue (from 20 countries and 5 continents), for a “Capacity Building session” run by Foundations for Freedom, a programme of (Initiatives of Change in Ukraine).

This event is designed:

  • To equip and empower those leading Farmers’ Dialogue, with tools to develop the program and to become more effective in their country and region.
  • To improve coordination, organization and strategy.
  • To stimulate cross-border exchanges between farmers in Africa, (including French- and English-speaking) Asia, America and Europe.

The meeting will serve as a training ground for the Rwandan team, as they prepare for the International Farmers’ Dialogue to be held later this year or early next.

The visits of Claude and Fiacre in December strengthened partnerships with NGOs, officials in the ministry of agriculture and professional organizations. Those they met were very interested in the aims and approach of Farmers’ Dialogue, in empowering farmers to become active partners, in the development and implementation of plans and policies that are dealing with the challenges we all face of, famine, environment issues, development, poverty, the development of professional organization etc.

Claude Bourdin meeting with Mrs Kayitesi (Initiatives of Change) and Mr Namahungu, former permanent secretary at the Ministry for Agriculture in Rwanda Preparing for the meeting in March is taking a lot of energy in: preparing invitations, coordinating plans and funding raising. Out of a total budget of 66,595 euros, 35,000 still need to be found! Ideas about how we do this are welcome.

In discussions with friends on our return from Rwanda we felt this is right moment to go ahead with this programme in faith that the funds required will be found! Farmers’ Dialogue is faced with the opportunity to multiply its impact. It is a tool that had developed over the years and is now ready for a wider use!

Anyone wishing to contribute to this venture please contact Claude Bourdin

Claude Bourdin      Phil Jefferys        Jim Wigan
International Coordination Group