The International Cooperative Alliance-Asia and Pacific [ICA-AP] in collaboration with the JA-ZENCHU [Central Union of Agricultural Cooperatives of Japan] and the Institute for the Development of Agricultural Cooperation in Asia [IDACA] held the 4th Training Course on “Promotion of Sustainable Enterprises for Rural Women” from 20th August to 25th September 2009 in Vietnam and Japan. The generous financial assistance was provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries [MAFF] of the Government of Japan to conduct this program.

Twelve women participants – two each from Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam attended the Training Course.

The main objectives of the Training Course were (a) to learn methods of enterprise development by rural women through case studies; (b) to study management methods of micro-enterprises by rural women; and (c) to learn methods of encouraging women to be involved in rural communities’ development.

The part-I of the program - Comparative Study Visits - was held in Vietnam from 20th to 29th August in collaboration with the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance [VCA], a member-organization of ICA.

The part-II of the program held at IDACA from 30th August to 25th September 2009 included extensive classroom work and study visits to agricultural cooperatives in Saitama and Aomori Prefectures of Japan. Lecture-cum-practical field study visits assignments were combined to impart necessary knowledge to the participants on the working of women’s associations and the general activities of agricultural cooperatives in Japan. In view of the experience gained by the participants through class room lectures, field study visits in Vietnam and Japan, the participants were able to develop brief outlines of their Action Plans which they would be recommending to their respective organizations on return to their home countries.

An end-of-the Course Evaluation was conducted at the conclusion of the Training Course. The participants felt that the training course was very relevant for the women leaders of agricultural cooperatives in Asia and hence it should be continued. They also expressed their greatest appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Government of Japan for providing financial support for this Training Course. They hoped that the MAFF would continue to support this training program in the future also for the development of rural women in the developing countries.
A Certificate of Participation was awarded to each participant at the concluding session held at the IDACA in Tokyo on 24th September. The concluding session was attended by Mr. Fuminori Miyatake, Deputy Director, International Cooperation Division, International Affairs Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF); Mr. Kenjiro Miyazaki, Managing Director of IDACA; Mr. K. Sethu Madhavan, Planning Officer/Program Coordinator, ICA–Asia and Pacific; and other senior officers of IDACA.