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CIHEAM
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza
Advanced Course
AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL AND DEVELOPMENT
INDICATORS AS TOOLS FOR SUSTAINABLE RURAL
MANAGEMENT
Zaragoza (Spain), 16-20 May 2016
Please display on a notice board if possible
1. Objective of the course
Sustainability is a fundamental policy concept in the fields of
environment, economic and social development in rural areas. Agrienvironment and rural development challenges have become key issues
related to rural development and agricultural policies.
The Mediterranean countries face complex and diverse agrienvironmental and rural development issues that include climate
change, soil erosion and degradation, water scarcity, increase of forest
fires and biodiversity loss. The World Bank estimates that the loss of
productivity caused by land degradation in southern and eastern
Mediterranean countries costs on average between 1000 and 1500
million dollars, annually. At the same time, rural development must
deal, in this context, with changing migration trends, evolving
economic and social transformations and changes in farm structure and
land use.
Indicators provide analytical tools to understand, monitor and assess
the situation and dynamics of rural systems and policies. Indicators are
increasingly being used by policy makers, administrators and
researchers as tools for sustainable rural management. Based on
analytical frameworks, indicators help to analyse information by
managing different and multiple data and reducing complexity.
The course will provide participants with:
– A brief overview of sustainable rural development issues and policies
with a focus on the Mediterranean region.
– Knowledge of the aspects currently identified as key challenges for
development in rural areas and its orientation to sustainable
development.
– Criteria on the relevance and usefulness of different analytical
frameworks according to particular contexts.
– Awareness about relevant sources for selecting indicators and
methods for constructing them.
– Practical experience working with agri-environmental and rural
development indicator systems and on how to develop, use and
evaluate indicators.
– Ability to use indicators throughout decision-making processes at
different stages of policy cycles.
– An outlook on innovative approaches to improve the construction
and use of agri-environment and rural development indicators.
Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), and will be given by
well qualified lecturers from international institutions, universities,
research centres and consultancy firms in different countries.
The course will be held over a period of 1 week, from 16 to 20 May
2016, in morning and afternoon sessions.
3. Admission
The course is designed for 25 professionals with a university degree,
and is aimed at decision makers, public sector agents, managers,
technical advisors, NGOs and R+D professionals interested in the
development and use of agri-environmental or development indicators.
Given the diverse nationalities of the lecturers, knowledge of English,
French or Spanish will be valued in the selection of candidates, since
they will be the working languages of the course. IAMZ will provide
simultaneous interpretation of the lectures in these three languages.
4. Registration
Application forms may be obtained from:
Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza
Avenida de Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza (Spain)
Tel.: +34 976 716000 - Fax: +34 976 716001
e-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.iamz.ciheam.org
Candidates should send the completed application form to the above
address, accompanied by a detailed curriculum vitae, stating degree,
diplomas, experience, professional activities, language knowledge and
reasons for applying to the course. Copies of certificates should be
enclosed with the application.
The deadline for the submission of applications is 1 March 2016.
Applications from those candidates who cannot present their complete
records when applying, or those requiring authorization to attend the
course, may be accepted provisionally.
Registration fees for the course amount to 450 euro. This sum covers
tuition fees only.
5. Scholarships
2. Organization
The course will take place at the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute
of Zaragoza (IAMZ) of the International Centre for Advanced
Instituto Agronómico Mediterráneo de Zaragoza
Avenida de Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain
Tel.: +34 976 716000, Fax: +34 976 716001
E-mail: [email protected]
Candidates from CIHEAM member countries (Albania, Algeria, Egypt,
France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain,
Tunisia and Turkey) may apply for scholarships covering registration
See updated information at
www.iamz.ciheam.org
INFORMATION
CONTINUES
OVERLEAF
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fees, and for scholarships covering the cost of travel and full board
accommodation in the Hall of Residence on the Aula Dei Campus.
Candidates from other countries who require financial support should
apply directly to other national or international institutions.
4.
6. Insurance
It is compulsory for participants to have medical insurance valid for
Spain. Proof of insurance cover must be given at the beginning of the
course. Those who so wish may participate in a collective insurance
policy taken out by the IAMZ, upon payment of the stipulated sum.
7. Teaching organization
The course requires personal work and interaction among participants
and with lecturers. The international characteristics of the course favour
the exchange of experiences and points of view.
Lectures are complemented by applied examples and discussions.
Throughout the course participants will put into practice the
knowledge acquired during the lectures, through practical sessions
devoted to set analytical frameworks, manage data and analyse results
based on indicators. Three of the exercises will be organized in small
teams and the fourth is planned as a role game.
5.
8. Programme
1. Agriculture, environment and rural development (1 hour)
1.1. Sustainable development: the economic, social, environmental
and institutional interfaces
1.2. Rural territories and the agricultural sector
1.3. The agri-environmental interface
1.4. The agri-environmental and rural development policy
challenges
1.5. Indicators as tools
2. Indicators: approaches and methods (2 hours)
2.1. Indicators for what and for whom?
2.2. Indicator systems
2.3. Scales: territorial typologies and territorial connections
2.4. From data to indicators: relevance, reliability, feasibility
2.5. Discussion
3. Agri-environmental indicators (AEI) (4 hours)
3.1. Agri-environmental challenges in different social and political
contexts
3.2. Analytical frameworks
3.2.1. Driving forces, pressure, state, impact, response (DPSIR)
3.2.2. Further refinements: vulnerability, risk, output, result,
outcome, etc.
3.2.3. Dashboards versus integrated indices
3.3. Examples of indicator systems
3.3.1. OECD
3.3.2. IRENA
6.
7.
8.
3.3.3. FAO
3.3.4. Other approaches
3.4. Indicators’ weaknesses and limits
Sustainable rural development indicators (SDI) (4 hours)
4.1. Sustainable development in the context of rural areas
4.2. Analytical frameworks
4.2.1. DPSIR applied to SDI
4.2.2. Further refinements: resilience, vulnerability, risk, output,
result, impact, context, etc.
4.2.3. Quantitative/qualitative and objective/subjective
approaches
4.2.4. SDI in the new post 2015 Agenda: sustainable development
goals (SDGs)
4.2.5. Scenarios and feedback loops
4.3. Examples of indicator systems
4.3.1. United Nations: MDGs and SDGs
4.3.2. OECD: Measuring Progress and Better Life Index
4.3.3. EU rural development indicators
4.3.4. Non EU examples
4.4. Indicators’ weaknesses and limits
Constructing and using indicators (3 hours)
5.1. Setting the framework
5.2. Data sources
5.3. Constructing indicators: data driven or problem driven
5.4. Managing lack of data: estimating values and proxy indicators
5.5. Interchangeability and standardization of information and data
5.6. Evaluation of indicators
5.7. Data visualization
Managing indicators through policy cycle (3 hours)
6.1. Baseline analysis
6.2. Linking indicators to policy objectives
6.3. Improvement of data through policy measures
6.4. Monitoring and follow-up
6.5. Policy evaluation
6.6. Reporting and communicating
6.7. Transparency, public awareness and stakeholder involvement
6.8. Discussion
Innovative approaches (2 hours)
7.1. Remote sensing and GIS
7.2. Indicators for Result Based Payments
7.3. Collecting and extrapolating survey data
7.4. Social media, participation and crowd monitoring
7.5. Can Big Data help?
7.6. Discussion
Practical work (16 hours)
8.1. Problem definition and methodological choice
8.2. Selection of indicators using DPSIR framework and
vulnerability framework
8.3. Data management (including incomplete or poor information
sets) and analysis of results of indicators)
8.4. Role game on interpretation and perceptions of indicators
GUEST LECTURERS
M. ÁLVAREZ-ARENAS, Grupo TAU, Madrid (Spain)
D. BALDOCK, IEEP, London (United Kingdom)
H. von MEYER, OECD, Berlin (Germany)
D. PEREIRA, Univ. Politécnica Madrid (Spain)
J.E. PETERSEN, EEA, Copenhagen (Denmark)
H.P. PIORR, Univ. Applied Sciences Eberswalde (Germany)
J. URQUIJO, Univ. Politécnica Madrid (Spain)
M. ZEIDLER, Univ. Applied Sciences Eberswalde (Germany)
International Centre for Advanced
Mediterranean Agronomic Studies
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza