With the ultimate objective of ensuring a sustainable impact of capacity-building activities in Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) in Tunisia, PARM trained over 40 trainers from universities, training centers, farmers’ organizations, private sector companies, womens’ organizations, and microfinance institutions in Tunis from 4 to 8 March 2024.

The training enabled participants to acquire in-depth knowledge of ARM, risk assessment, prioritization of agricultural risks, and risk management tools, following PARM’s holistic approach. Each session was complemented by experts’ insights on olive and cereals, the two value chains on which PARM’s risk assessment study focused. The discussions also focused on the results of the study conducted by PARM in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries (MARHP), through the General Directorate for Investment Financing and Professional Organizations (DGFIOP).

Group workshops and lively debates facilitated a thorough understanding of PARM’s risk assessment methodology among the trainers. They also discussed action plans for mainstreaming ARM into university curricula and private sector practices, with a gender perspective, to ensure a lasting impact of capacity-building activities on ARM.

Linking theory to practice

To bridge theory with practice, participants embarked on a field visit on 6 March to Ben Ismail Family Reserve in the province of Béja. Ben Ismail Reverse is a beneficiary of the World Bank’s TRACE project (Tunisian Rural and Agricultural Chains of Employment). This olive oil processing enterprise, renowned for its product quality and recipient of numerous awards, introduced participants to some of its techniques for growing and harvesting olives and goat’s cheese. The enterprise also highlighted the benefits deriving from applying agroecology practices.

This training provided participants with a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge of ARM, agricultural practices – including agroecology – social and solidarity economy tools, and Tunisia-specific initiatives such as the Agricultural Damage Compensation Fund (FIDAC). With these acquired skills and knowledge, participants will be able to effectively transfer them to other beneficiaries, helping to spread best practices.

The presence of donor representatives at the workshop, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and projects from the International Fund for Agricultural Development, will facilitate the integration of donors priorities into the next steps of the PARM process in Tunisia, in view of mobilizing resources for the ARM investment plan.