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Development Cooperation with MASHAV in 2018

Building on a very positive experience from 2016, Czech Development Cooperation continued to cooperate with the Israel´s Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) in 2018.  Four selected Ethiopian experts engaged in the projects supported by the Czech Development Cooperation got the opportunity to participate in training programs in Israel given by MASHAV training center. The trainings focused on building capacity in the field of education and agriculture. Upon their return, the experts shared their experience with the respective Woreda and Zonal Offices and colleagues and offered some innovations that could be easily implemented. Within the selected participants were Mr. Tamrat Gibon who is the Programme Manager in People in Need, a Czech NGO, and Mr. Sinetayehu Mekonnen, an agriculture expert from Arba Minch (Gamo Gofa) Zonal Agriculture Bureau.
 

People in Need where Mr. Tamrat is currently working is currently implementing several projects targeting education development in Ethiopia and therefore, Mr. Tamrat participated at the Education for Sustainable Development training. The training combined science, technology, economic empowerment, inclusive education and environment education in a very organic form. It introduced some interesting approaches as realizing education towards sustainable development through active involvement of learners. Mr. Tamrat is planning to implement those theories in the project “Supporting Inclusive Education in Dilla – Gedeo and Hossana Hadyia Zone” that develops capacity of teachers of primary schools, teachers colleges and resource centers supported by the Czech Development Cooperation. Mr. Tamrat is already planning to implement the gained knowledge in a few simple steps. While facilitating Teachers training for Pedagogy Enhancement on Education towards Sustainable Development Mr. Tamrat will ensure that, the model includes elements of ESD (economic, environmental and social dimensions). This idea further tries to enhance approaches to learning, enriches learning experiences and creates attractive learning environments. The target schools are currently focusing on transmission of knowledge from the teacher to the learner and fail to link learning to the world outside school. Education towards sustainable development for the 21st century includes community development and all actors have to be actively engaged. The majority of current community actors graduating from training schools are unable to help local communities to build sustainable societies using their own local resources. Mr. Tamrat will try to change the mindset of project participants to take care of the community and respect their surroundings.

Mr. Sinetayehu Mekonnen participated at the Agricultural Development in Arid Regions training. The theoretical part of the training introduced various methods of irrigation, fertilization technology and cucumber cultivation that are highly relevant for Ethiopia. Further, it covered the possibilities of rural development and agro-tourism intersections in semi-arid environments that is applicable for Arba Minch area, as many cultivation is going on and the zone is highly attractive for tourists. Those approaches may be used in the implementation of the project “Holistic land management and climate smart agriculture in the Baso River catchment, Arba Minch Zuria”, particularly pressurized irrigation technologies including drip technology, sprinkler, and further water harvesting technologies. The training further included practical part as field trips to Gilat Regional Research & Development Centre of ARO Volcani-Lecture (for visiting the implementation of Crop genetic improvement for best productivity) and  to Ramat Ha Negev Research & Development Station: Regional Research. Those visits were purposefully included to observe the implementation of optimizing existing crop production and development of new adaptive crop varieties and on solving problems related with pests, diseases and draught.

 

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MASHAV 2018