Training of Trainers (TOT) and Deans’ Forum on Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) is held
Training of Trainers (TOT) on Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA and Deans’ Forum were held by a collaborative effort of SAA and College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University.
The TOT training, which was held on October 26, 2020, aims to equip instructors with the necessary skills and knowledge on SAA Field Level Models to the capacity of making the trainee instructors being able to train their colleagues. A total of 45 participants have attended the training. The participants consisted of Deans, Head of Departments and mid-career program coordinators from ten SAA partner universities (Bahir Dar, Gondar, Wollo, Mekelle, Haramaya, Hawassa, Jimma, Arba Minch, Jigjiga and Semera) SAA staff from Addis Ababa.
The training aimed:
- To generate more awareness and sensitization around SAA field Level extension models with University lecturers in Ethiopia
- To improve the knowledge and understanding of University lecturers on SAA field level extension models
- To ascertain the application of SAA field level extension models in SEPs and DDC
- To review proper allocation and placement of SAA field level extension models in curricula of Universities
Dr. Asaminew Tassew, Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University delivered welcoming speech. In his speech, he acknowledged SAA for organizing the TOT and Deans’ forum.
The opening remarks were made by Mr. Getachew Minas, representative of SAA Ethiopia Country Director. On behalf of the country Director, Mr Getachew has briefly discussed about the SAA activities in Ethiopia. He mentioned that SAA has currently been organizing its activities into 6 models which are presented for universities to be considered for integration into their curriculums. These six models are:
- Farmer Learning Platform (FLP) – (Includes: Climate Smart Village (CSV), Community Demonstration Plots (CDPs), Community Variety Plots (CVPs), Technology Adoption Plots (TAPs) and Model Adoption Plots (MAPs))
- Community Based Seed Multiplication (CBSM)
- Community Savings for Investment in Agribusiness (CSIA) – (includes: access to Finance
- Private and Extension Service Provider (PESP) – (includes: Private Service Providers (PSPs), Commodity Association Traders/Trainers (CAT), Commodity Association (CA), Community-based Facilitators (CBF))
- SAFE Demand Driven Curriculum (SDDC) – (includes: Supervised Enterprise Projects (SEPs))
- Agro-Processing Enterprise Center (APEC) – (Includes: Agro-processing Enterprise (APE), Enterprise Centers (EC), Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization for Smallholder farmers (PHTP))
Finally, Mr Getachew wished a fruitful discussion and active engagement through the sessions.
Following the training session, the Deans’ forum was held on October 27, 2020. At the forum, the curriculum revision committee presented the revised curriculum and suggestions were forwarded for consideration of inculcating the field level models into the curriculum.
In the closing remarks, Dr. Asaminew, Dean of College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at BDU and Dr. Fikadu Mitiku, Dean, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University extended their huge gratitude to SAA for organizing the TOT and the Deans’ forum. They also acknowledged the active participation of the instructors who participated in the two sessions.
