Project 08jfu-5169

08jfu-5169 Identification of priorities for the General Commission of JFU

budget	€ 48.771,16	status	execution
start date	01-09-2008	date end	31-12-2008
location	central, as well as all regional branches	country	jordan
financer	Agriterra
executor	Jordan Farmers Union	intervention level	national
Programmes	\| work area 01: Participatory Policy Formulation \| IFAP 04: Involve farmers in decisionmaking processes \|
description	The Jordan Farmers Union aims to serve farmers and especially the margins attained by lack of water availability and climate change seem to hit small farmers at its worst. The project aims at enabling JFU to adopt the General Commission's priorities in meeting members’ needs and defend their benefits. This objective (...more...)
description	The Jordan Farmers Union aims to serve farmers and especially the margins attained by lack of water availability and climate change seem to hit small farmers at its worst. The project aims at enabling JFU to adopt the General Commission's priorities in meeting members’ needs and defend their benefits. This objective will be achieved through following activities : - designing a scientific research study to identify priorities and needs - conduct research on agricultural statistics - carry out field survey including a series of 13 regional (branch) workshops in order to get broad input from organized members on problem perception and needs assessment. - analyse these survey results (desk study) - report in writing on all final results: scientific research, statistical research as well as workshop survey, and communicate the conclusions thereof to the General Commission. Projected expenses are covered by proper contribution, services delivery by three local project counterparts, as well as grant requested from Agriterra (45% of total budget). (...less...)
results & observations	The Jordan Farmers Union is a new liaison and project partner of Agriterra since 2008. They are fairly dependant on Government support but also express a genuine will to serve farmer members affiliated in Governorate branch divisions. They claim to be able to mobilize possibilities to be effective, but at (...more...)
final results & observations	The Jordan Farmers Union is a new liaison and project partner of Agriterra since 2008. They are fairly dependant on Government support but also express a genuine will to serve farmer members affiliated in Governorate branch divisions. They claim to be able to mobilize possibilities to be effective, but at the same time the Union is aware of its limitations. The project focused to address and tackle some of these limitations. The project aimed to improve internal communication and information. First, by investigating problems most affecting agricultural producers in Jordan, as well as identifying possible solutions. For this, a large number of farmers was approached to participate in research studies and in a questionnaire in order to asses priorities. Second, JFU aimed to set up an integrated database on activities of the Union. A conclusion is that the Union made a big leap in its farmer approach and self-analysis as an organisation. The range of workshops are supposed to have been executed according to the quite detailed plan, and thus the planned outreach realised. Still, the project reporting in draft is not comprehensive in its presentation, nor as regards content. The organisation is requested to provide a report that is improved both in English language as in contents. Until May 2009, an improved report has not been produced. (...less...)
specialisms	\| Grass-roots participation \| Internal organisational strengthening \| Policy generation \| Research for development in agriculture (ARD) \|

	APPLICATION
	APPLICATION

	DEFINITION
	DEFINITION

	EXECUTION
	EXECUTION

	RESULTS
	RESULTS

	PROGRESS
	PROGRESS

	RELATIONS
	RELATIONS

PROPOSAL

Agri-agency	Own contribution executor	Other parties	Total requested budget
Agriterra	JFU
€ 0,00 + € 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 0,00	€ 31.825,00

JFU aims to serve farmers and especially the margins attained by lack of water availability and climate change seem to hit small farmers at its worst. As far as civil society is concerned, food security is not recognised by government as a central policy goals. Agricultural needs and demands, and the broader rural development are underexposed in central policy. This is a far from motivating environment for JFU to operate in.

JFU blames the lack of serviceability of Agriculture Department towards JFU as a civil client. Despite several requests and efforts since 2000, JFU cannot dispose of reliable agriculture figures or statistics. Existence of pertaining figures is uncertain as no relevant documents have been reclaimed.

In this context JFU Board and three central stakeholders have taken on the challenge to try and carry out relevant research to at least partly fill this gap. JFU staff and experts from University of Jordan have designed a project in which also the Statistical studies centre and Centre for opinion measurement have agreed to participate and contribute by service delivery.

Organisation
The Jordan Farmers Union consists of 14 branches: the General Union in the capital Amman and 13 branches in the governorates. Each branch has a significant number of members, adding up to some 25.350 members. There are two Qualitative Unions under the General Union: for poultry breeders and for aromatic and medicinal plants. Members are individuals, companies and associations. There is a membership fee and membership is optional.

The Union’s General Assembly is composed of members of the Branch Board Councils and Qualitative Union Board Councils. GA tasks are (among others) to appraise the general policy, annual work plan, the annual balance sheet and final accounts, and annual reports. Further organisational analysis is available in quick scan document.
Every regional branch has a Board Council and independent General Assembly. The Branch GA elects the Branch Board Council, assesses relevant issues and make suitable decisions and appraises the annual budget and final accounts.
The Branch Board Council (among other issues) implements policy and programs and rises issues that concern members to the Branch GA in order to make suitable recommendations to be presented to the General Council.
Important to note: the project at stake has been designed in this last sphere.

Objective
The project aims at enabling the Jordan Farmers Union to adopt the General Commission's priorities in meeting members’ needs and defend their benefits.

This objective will be achieved through following activities :
- designing a scientific research study to identify priorities and needs
- conduct research on agricultural statistics
- carry out field survey including a series of 13 regional (branch) workshops in order to get broad input from organized members on problem perception and needs assessment.
- analyse these survey results (desk study)
- report in writing on all final results: scientific research, statistical research as well as workshop survey, and communicate the conclusions thereof to the General Commission.

Main contributors in research are experts of University of Jordan specialized in main issues, notably water, climate change, energy, marketing, financial and management systems; staff of statistical studies centre; staff of Centre for opinion measurement / reconnaissance.

The project will involve participation of a large number of farmers and their representatives in 3 workshops series, in which also the General Management of the Union and Councils of 13 Branches of the Union are present.
The following series of workshops are designed :
- Preliminary meetings (2) involving the General Union management and experts.
- 1st Workshop series (13) involving approx. 1.850 General Commissions' members in 13 regional branches
- 2nd Workshop series (6) covering 4 regions of similar climate and production type (resp. north, middle, south and Jordan Valley) as well as 2 Qualitative (or kind) Unions: poultry farmers and the women producing medical and perfume plants. Attendance of approx. 660 small-scale farmers is expected.
- 3rd Workshops series (2) with 105 members of General Commission of the General Union Council. These members represent boards of the 13 Union branches and the two kind unions.

The workshops shall be preceded by a number of statistical and research activities and preparation of papers. The output of these surveys shall be the background of discussions in the workshops.

Outcomes
- Enable the Union to obtain applicable information about the agricultural sector
- Identification of priorities and urgent needs of the Union General Commission
- Development of the Union employees’ skills in managing programs in discussion with the General Commission members
- Enhancement of adherence of the Union members
- Strengthening the institutional structure of the Union

The full budget of the project is estimated at EUR 45.960.
Contributors are the Farmers’ Union plus four local stakeholders: Jordanian University (papers and presentations), Centre for opinion measurement (investigations in the barriers facing the agriculture sector), Centre for statistical studies (ditto) and an anonymous stakeholder delivering type-work.
Contribution expected from JFU on preparation of project proposal, logistics and printing material : EUR 12.800; contribution by local stakeholders valued at EUR 7.700.

A contribution of EUR 25.460 has been asked from Agriterra.
A complement to contributions by local stakeholders (see above) notably on preparation of papers and presentations, reconnaissance on agricultural problems, agricultural statistics research and printing, adds up to EUR 9.100.
Agriterra has been requested to fully fund the preliminary meetings and three workshops series, total budget EUR 16.360.

GOALS

Identify and address prevailing problems of the agricultural sector and have these prioritized by General Commission and General Assembly of the Union, in order to build the needed capacities

	Partner Sites
	Partner Sites