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RuralInvest Technical training
IN-PERSON @ SLE, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin plus follow-up online coaching sessions
Date: November 11-22, 2024
9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. (Central European Time)
Context
RuralInvest is a free toolkit designed to support field technicians in their work with entrepreneurs by allowing the systematization and development of bankable and sustainable business proposals.
The toolkit comprises user-friendly software, an e-learning course, tailored face-to-face training, user manuals, and a worldwide community of users. Through a participatory and bottom-up approach, RuralInvest methodology brings together local communities, rural entrepreneurs, government field technicians, project staff, and financing institutions to identify, prepare, evaluate and finance small-and medium-size sustainable rural investment projects.
RuralInvest’s participatory bottom-up approach ensures that farmers take ownership in their projects. Business plans are developed through interactive group sessions, use of flipcharts, and constant communication between RuralInvest users and the farmers. We aim to build up national capacities by generating pools of users and trainers from national institutions who can implement the methodology and undertake RuralInvest activities.
The free brand-new software RIV20 is user-friendly and supports all types of small and medium-scale rural businesses and translates participatory data collection into professional-quality business plans. It is open-source and works perfectly offline with optional cloud features allowing to collaborate easily.
This training was developed based on the cooperation project “Developing complementary training materials and delivering training of trainers on RuralInvest to contribute to the development of sustainable small scale –investments” which took place from January 2022 – December 2022 between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Centre for Rural Development (SLE).
Benefits
By the successful participation in the course you will be able at the end of the training to
- work with entrepreneurs in the field to help them refine their investment idea and gather the needed qualitative and quantitative information needed to build a business plan
- use the software to process the data and develop business plan based first on given study cases and later on real cases in participant’s context
- interpret most of the data and indicators of the RIV business plan and being able to communicate it with the entrepreneurs helping them taking a decision
- become part of the RIV experts and contribute to the further development of the RIV toolkit
Key topics
During the In-person training part:
- RIV Key vocabulary
- Participatory data collection in the field to develop a business plan
- Cost classification
- Qualitative data of a business plan
- Modelling activities in RIV
- Detailed financial analysis indicators
- Analysis of a “with- and without-project scenarios”
- Sensitivity analysis
- Collaboration within RIV software
During the online part of the training:
- Work on the correction of business plans based on a real case from participant’s country )
Course preparation
- Participation at a one hour virtual preparatory meetingon October 9, 2023(meeting details will be shared in advance)
- Completition of the online Intro Course: RuralInvest – An introduction https://elearning.fao.org/course/view.php?id=754, details will be shared during the preparatory meeting
- Participation in our Training Needs Assessment
- Participants should be equipped with a laptop
Course follow-up
- Trainee collects data in the field submits 1 detailed business plan
- Twp online coaching sessions of 2 hours duration will be offered, trainees will work on the correction of the business plan that they developed together with certified trainer(s), the coaching sessions will be scheduled individually
Training methods
- Input and group work and individual exercises
- Role play
- Visit / exchange with financing institutions
- The SLE training follows a very practical training approach. The selected cases will be adapted to the participants needs as far as possible
Group size
- max. 20 persons composed by external applicants and members of the SLE Network (two-three trainers plus a Co-trainer will ensure the quality of the training)
Course Programme
Here a link to the two-weeks programme will be uploaded
Target Group
Previous experiences in seeking and applying for funding, in managing and monitoring funding and in supporting local producers with the development of their business is an advantage. Participants should bemember of a training institution involved in access to finance for agripreneurs (SME’s) or service providers supporting agripreneurs (SME’s) to access finance or projects staff with an "access to finance" dimension, financial institution supporting agri SME's. This introductory course is designed for those with little or no experience in the in using RIV. However, more experienced facilitators might refresh ideas and get new inspiration for their work.
Trainer
The training will be realised with the support of two main trainers and a third co-trainer:
Chloé Cangiano is an agro-economist at FAO, coordinating RuralInvest activities at global level with activities currently in 15 countries. She developed, with the team, a brand new training approach, the updated training material and the new software. She is an internationally experienced trainer.
Information about the other trainers will be added here.
General information
Special kick off price package for the training and the follow up coaching 1100,- € per person.
This includes:
- 10 -days in-person training course in Berlin
- Coffee breaks
- Course documentation and learning materials
- Certificate as “RIV user” of participation issued by Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin after the completed course and the follow-up sessions
Further individual expenses for travel, accommodation and meals or other costs, including insurance and visa fees, are not included in the price and must also be paid by the participant.
We cannot offer scholarships to fund the expenses.
What does live online training mean?
Our online trainings are not pre-recorded training videos, webinars for large audiences or self-paced e-learning courses. They are virtual live trainings delivered by our trainers in real-time, focusing on the interaction of a small group of remote participants. Just like our face-to-face trainings, these virtual classrooms aim at tailoring the discussions and learning experiences to the training needs of the participants.
Requirements: to attend our live online trainings, a reliable high-speed internet connection and a computer or laptop running Windows or iOS are required (including audio and video). The Humboldt-Universität of Berlin uses the videoconferencing platform Zoom for virtual classrooms. We strongly recommend an external headset for better sound quality.
Organizer
The Centre for Rural Development (SLE) belongs to the Albrecht Daniel Thaer Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture Sciences, a department of the Humboldt-University of Berlin. As a postgraduate study program, the SLE prepares young professionals for work in the field of international development cooperation, connecting science and practice. Alongside SLE STUDIES, the SLE further engages in development cooperation through its other departments: SLE TRAINING, SLE RESEARCH and SLE ADVISORY SERVICES.
Further information on SLE TRAINING can be found on our website: www.sle-berlin.de/en/training
Specific information on the offered course can be found on this website: https://www.sle-berlin.de/index.php/training/sle-training-courses-de/2022-online-course-management-of-development-projects
The administration of the training courses conducted by SLE TRAINING is managed by the Humboldt-Innovation GmbH (HI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. HI will be your contract partner. HI uses the subcontractor Mr. Andreas Bothe, operating under the name of eveeno (Federal Republic of Germany), to handle the participant management, booking and billing.
Please be aware of the deadlines and fees for cancellation according to the General Terms and Conditions: www.sle-berlin.de/training/faq-more/general-terms-and-conditions
Should participation be impossible due to overcrowding, you can be added to the waiting list if desired. In that case or if you have any further questions, please write to sletraining@hu-berlin.de and we will get back to you as soon as possible.