Two-day Technical Training on How to Conduct an Agriculture Sector Risk Assessment

The World Bank, through its Agricultural Risk Management Team (ARMT), launched a two-day technical training on how to conduct an agriculture sector risk assessment on May 20, 2015 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Participants in the training came mainly from Ministries of Agriculture, with representatives from seven Sub-Saharan African countries (Burkina Faso, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Rwanda, and Tanzania). The participants over the course of the training learned the conceptual framework and tools for undertaking agricultural risk assessments, and acquired skills to identify, prioritize, and manage agricultural risks. 

Through this training, capacities in core skills in assessing agricultural risks, as well as current state-of-the-art practices in risk assessment and management are being transferred to public sector officials, who have recognized the need to acquire the tools for qualitative and quantitative assessment, prioritization mechanisms, and the ability to understand and manage risk more systematically and strategically. Training sessions also covered how to identify risk management instruments and how to mainstream risk management into policies and strategies. The training combines sessions on risk assessment based on ARMT’s methodology and practical experience and methodology, with exercises and quizzes. An important part of the training is also the exchange between the participants on their challenges, experiences, and on how to best mainstream risk management in the context in which they operate. 

The training is being sponsored by USAID, Feed the Future, the Swiss Development Cooperation, and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.