Support to non-CTA training schemes
Criteria for the selection of candidates & programmes

Preamble

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) was established in 1983 under the Lomé Convention between the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) Group of States and the European Union Member States. Since 2000, it has operated within the framework of the ACP-EC Cotonou Agreement.

CTA’s tasks are to develop and provide services that improve access to information for agricultural and rural development, and to strengthen the capacity of ACP countries to produce, acquire, exchange and utilise information in this area. CTA’s programmes are designed to: provide a wide range of information products and services and enhance awareness of relevant information sources; promote the integrated use of appropriate communication channels and intensify contacts and information exchange (particularly intra-ACP); and develop ACP capacity to generate and manage agricultural information and to formulate ICM strategies, including those relevant to science and technology. CTA’s work incorporates new developments in methodologies and cross-cutting issues such as gender and social capital.

It is in this context that CTA is required to “develop and provide information services and ensure better access to research training and innovations in order to reinforce ACP capacities.” Consequently, in addition to CTA's own training courses, CTA supports ACP nationals to attend training courses on agricultural ICM themes organised by other institutions.

1. CTA support

a. Candidates will be supported to attend non-CTA training events in other institutions in order to acquire knowledge and skills in the following scenario of conditions:

• Group courses:
  • either individual applications
  • or corporate applications for the support of ACP trainees as a group
• Individual internships at centres of excellence
• National programme special requests.

b. CTA’s financial contribution for the various options is as follows:

• Individual applicants to group courses: The maximum cost for the support of a single applicant to a non-CTA group training course is €3,000 excluding round trip airfare and €4,500 including round trip airfare.
• Corporate applications for group training support: The total value of the support will not exceed €25,000 for a minimum of ten participants excluding round trip excursion airfares. In addition, corporate requests will be considered only upon the submission of a convincing proposal for support from the institution or body making the request.
• Individual applicants to internships at centres of excellence: The maximum cost borne by CTA will not exceed €6,000 per person excluding round trip excursion airfares and €7,500 including round trip excursion airfares.
• National Programme Special Requests: Requests made by national programmes for training their own nationals exclusively on a given theme will be supported in deserving circumstances e.g. post-conflict situations or after natural disasters.
  Total costs for support to this category of requests will not exceed €20,000 per course. Costs relating to the travel to and from the course venue, accommodation and per diem allowances of participants and all other logistical costs during the course will be the direct responsibility of the national programme requesting the support.

c. In all cases, the administration of these benefits is subject to the financial regulations of CTA.

2. Eligibility and selection criteria

2.1 General criteria

1. Candidates must be ACP nationals and reside in one of the 79 ACP countries signatory to the Cotonou Agreement and belong to one of the main target groups of CTA: researchers, planners, extension workers, personnel from government and non-governmental agencies active in agriculture and rural development, rural associations (producer organizations, women and youth groups), private sector representatives.
2. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

2.2 Individual Applicants

1. Only ACP nationals currently residing in an ACP country are eligible for support.
2. An authorized officer in the candidate’s organization must endorse the application.
3. Preference is given to suitably qualified female applicants.
4. Individual participants will only be supported once in a two-year period.
5. Freelance applications will not be considered.
6. Staff of international organizations such as the CGIAR, FAO and other UN organizations are not eligible for support.
7. Candidates must complete and submit the application form (Application for Support to a non-CTA Training Course) to CTA, together with a proof of admission to the course for which support is sought.
8. All requests for support are examined by an internal committee. Candidates will be subsequently informed of the decision of CTA.

2.3 Corporate Applicants

1. Only institutions working for the benefit of ACP nationals in ACP countries are eligible for support.
2. Institutions applying for support must be duly recognized and be competent to undertake the activities under which the proposed training falls.
3. Institutions applying for support must submit the request in compliance with the CTA Guidelines for the Submission of a Proposal for Training Support.
4. The selection of a proposal for training support is subject to a favourable assessment of that proposal by CTA.

3. Courses

3.1 Topics

a. The course must be of direct relevance to the institution and to the work of the applicant and in line with CTA’s training themes. Subject to periodic revision, these training themes include:

Agricultural Information Management

• Data collection and analysis
• Establishment and management of databases related to e.g. library and documentation, market information systems, commodity sector analysis, natural resource information, agricultural statistics
• Question and Answer Service (QAS) management
• Management Information Systems (including Agricultural Research Management, Biometry and scientific data management)

Agricultural Communication

• Scientific writing
• Proposal writing
• Extension materials production
• Annual report production
• Use of media (printed press, radio, television)
• Use of new information and communication technologies – ICTs (websites, electronic networks, etc.).

b. In addition, themes involving gender and youth-related issues in ICT would have priority considerations.

3.2 Duration

a. The duration of the course should generally be from one to two weeks.

b. However, in exceptional circumstances, internships in centres of excellence for extended periods of up to twelve weeks may be considered, to allow trainees to develop adequate competence. Trainees could be attached to an expert at such a centre to gain hands-on experience in a practical working environment and be expected to apply their skills more confidently when they return to their home bases. In the latter case, the cost must be within the limits allowed for the support of an applicant and the course must be judged to be of strategic importance the institution of the applicant. In such circumstances, the institution will be required make a special case to justify the request.

3.3 Training Venues for Group Courses

a. To the extent possible, the intended venues should be within the region of the applicant’s institution. However, courses outside the region will be considered on their merit.

b. The institution organising the training to which candidates are seeking financial support to attend must have an excellent professional experience and a well-known reputation in the area of training.

c. The institution should also have a practically-oriented approach consistent with that of CTA and have the capacity to handle all administrative arrangements with respect to the candidate’s attendance of the course.

4. How to apply

a. Individual candidates for group courses and internships will complete the CTA form “Application for Support to a non-CTA Training Course” and submit it for consideration at least 3 months before the commencement of the course for which support is being sought.

b. Institutions requesting support for training activities they plan to conduct must submit a proposal using the CTA “Guidelines for the Submission of a Proposal for Training Support”. All proposals must be received at least 3 months before the intended commencement date of the course.

5. Submission of applications

All requests for support under this scheme should be addressed to:
The Director
CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation)
Postbus 380
NL 6700 AJ Wageningen
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 317 467144/146
Fax: +31 317 460067
E-mail: training@cta.int

(See application forms and guidelines documents in right menu).