DRC: training supervisors in Bukavu to help producers meet market demands

DRC: training supervisors in Bukavu to help producers meet market demands

As part of its ongoing commitment to promoting excellence and sustainable development within agricultural cooperatives, COLEAD recently organised a training session for supervisors of producer support structures in Bukavu as part of its Fit For Market Plus programme. The initiative, which lasted for two intensive weeks, brought together supervisors and experts from different smallholder support structures with a common goal: to strengthen their pedagogical and technical skills in order to better support producers to meet market demands.

Emphasis was placed on the use of an innovative methodology for educational activities designed to effectively transfer knowledge to producers. Participants from a wide range of backgrounds were able to familiarise themselves with practical tools designed to improve practices within cooperatives and respond appropriately to challenges on the ground.

The dynamics of the session were characterised by an exceptional level of engagement and motivation from the participants. The training offered everyone, regardless of their initial technical and pedagogical level, the opportunity to learn the techniques of educational leadership and to take a proactive approach to learning and applying the knowledge acquired.

One of the most significant outcomes of this training is the development by the participants of a personalised training programme to be implemented within their respective structures. This work illustrates the willingness of the participating organisations to sustain and share what they have learnt from the training beyond the individuals directly involved, with the aim of broadening its impact at a local and regional level.

Thirteen trainers attended the course, including two from Burundi, underlining the importance of regional cooperation in capacity-building efforts. This initiative is laying the foundations for a future in which local structures in DRC and Burundi are better equipped to face market challenges while adopting a sustainable development approach.

The next training session in the DRC will take place in Kinshasa in May/June.