In response to changing continuing education needs of agricultural institutions and their personnel in Eastern Africa, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Alemaya University (Ethiopia) are setting up a Center for Agricultural Research Management and Policy Learning for Eastern Africa (CARMPoLEA). This regional center will serve as a home of capacity building initiative to improve the management, organization and leadership of agricultural research and policy making and ultimately support the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS). To launch the center, we are organizing a series of workshops which are aimed at responding to regional knowledge and skill needs in the areas of agricultural research management and policy.

In line with this, IFPRI and Alemaya University are pleased to announce the following upcoming global workshops in the series.

1. Managing Agricultural Research for Development within Innovation Systems Perspective
Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, October 3-20, 2005 (Deadline for submitting the application form: August 25, 2005)

Objective:

To provide opportunities for researchers, extension workers, university faculty members, non-governmental organizations’ staff, and other actors in agricultural research and development (R&D) to improve their capacities and abilities in the following priority areas.

Topics:

· Leading for innovation

· Strategic planning for learning organizations

· Results-oriented program formulation

· Monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessment of R&D investments in agriculture

Workshop Fee: US$3,000.00

2. Strengthening Creativity in the Workplace

Venue: Alemaya University, Ethiopia, December 5-10, 2005 (Deadline for submitting the application form: October 23, 2005)

Objective:

To identify and strengthen participants’ qualities and attributes aimed at improving their work performance through developing their creativity.

Topics:

· Promoting innovation (2 days)

· Writing convincing proposals (4 days)

Workshop Fee: US$ 2,000.00

3. Law and Policy of Relevance to the Management of Plant Genetic Resources
Taught in partnership with the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)

Venue: Alemaya University, Ethiopia, January 23-28, 2006 (Deadline for submitting the application form: December 7, 2005)

Objective:
To promote reliable and scientific management of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, primarily for those who have management or policymaking responsibilities in plant genetic resources.

Topics:

· International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

· Convention on Biological Diversity

· Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/IPGRI Gene Bank Standards
· Intellectual property rights

· Phytosanitary and biosafety measures

Workshop Fee: US$2,000

Certificate

Participants are awarded a Certificate of Attendance for each workshop.

Who Can Participate?

The workshops are intended for active R&D practitioners and other actors in agricultural R&D. The organizers strive for diversity in gender, discipline, and nationality among workshop participants. Women are particularly encouraged to apply.

To ensure that participants benefit fully from the workshops, course size will be limited to 24 students.

Candidates should be fluent in English and engaged in agricultural research initiatives for development. This refers to professionals who are members and/or organizers of collaborative and inter-disciplinary R&D programs.

Workshop Fees

Fees cover accommodation, all meals, learning materials, and local transportation. Participants will receive a small cash allowance to help cover incidental expenses. Travel costs from and to a participant’s country of origin and health insurance are not included.

Please note that IFPRI does not provide funding for participants to cover workshop fees. However, many international organizations, including United Nations agencies, the European Union, the World Bank, regional development banks, embassies, and private foundations, do provide scholarships. Please inquire at the offices of these organizations in your country or region, or consult their websites.

Money Transfer

Workshop fees must be paid four weeks before the workshop in US dollars and transferred to: ILRI-Ethiopia, account no. 36783545 at Citibank, N.A., Swiftcode CITIUS33; 111 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10043.

An invoice will be sent to each short listed participant. Please quote the invoice number when transferring the workshop fee to the above address.

How to Apply

To apply for the above workshops, applicants can download the application form fromhttp://www.ifpri.org/training/WSAppForm.pdf or should send a request to [email protected] and return the filled form by email to [email protected] or by fax to: +251-1-46 29 27 before the deadline.

For up-to-date information about the workshops please visit: http://www.ifpri.org/training/train_workshop.htm

CONTACTS

IFPRI

Dr. Zenete Peixoto Franca, Senior Research Fellow

[email protected]

Dr. Adiel Nkonge Mbabu, Program Leader

[email protected]

Ms. Abenet Legesse

Training Assistant & Workshop Coordinator

[email protected]

ISNAR Division

P. O. Box 5689

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251-1-463215

Fax:+251-1-462927

www.ifpri.org

Alemaya University

Mr. Shimelis Wolde Hawariat, Lecturer

P. O. Box 138

Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251-5-610717

Fax:+251-5-610726

[email protected]; [email protected]

www.alemayau.edu.et

Should you require further information or clarification about the workshop, please contact Ms. Abenet Legesse, the workshop Coordinator, by email: [email protected] or by fax: +251-1-46 29 27.