An Assessment of Needs for Marketing Education, Training and Extension
in the Forestry Sector in Chile
Background
One of the strategies of the Forest Products Marketing Programme of FAO is to contribute to the development of human resource for forest products marketing function in forest-based enterprises and institutions. In implementing this strategy, one of the activities is the preparation of surveys of training needs in forest products marketing which are used as a basis for strengthening and initiating of appropriate education, training and extension programmes.
Over the years FAO has carried out a number of surveys of training needs in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America which in addition to their primary purpose have also provided basic material for preparation of guidelines for carrying out similar surveys.
Specific education and training in forest products marketing requires strengthening in many developing countries to meet the challenges posed by changing demand for forest products and growing importance of especially plantation-grown and other "new" forest raw materials. Assessment of needs for forest products marketing education and training is therefore an important issue in many parts of the world for the addressing of which appropriate guidelines are required.
A specific need for an assessment of the requirements for forest products marketing education in Chile has been identified by Universidad del Bío-Bío and INFOR (Instituto Forestal) in cooperation with the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. FAO has been invited to join the assessment based on its past experience in the area.
The aim of the FAO Forest Products Marketing Programme in this project is:
- to produce a survey of training needs in forest products marketing in Chile in order to provide an additional case for the preparation of the guidelines; and
- to prepare an annotated outline for a set of guidelines for carrying out surveys of training needs in forest products marketing and a proposed plan for the preparation of the guidelines.
Under the general direction of the Director of the FAO Forest Products Division, and under the direct supervision of the Senior Forestry Officer (Forest Products Marketing), the Recipient Organization will carry out a survey of training needs in forest products marketing in Chile and draft an annotated outline and a proposed plan for preparation of a set of guidelines for carrying out surveys of training needs in forest products marketing. More specifically the Recipient Organization will:
In preparing the survey of training needs in Chile:
· Coordination of the study work.
· A comprehensive study outline and a plan for collection of data and information.
· Identification of appropriate public and private sector sources of data and information.
· Collection of relevant data and information through desk research.
· Collection of relevant data and information through interviews in Chile.
· Based on a thorough analysis of the relevant data and information:
- Assess the current size and growth of the domestic and export trade of forest products (both wood and non-wood forest products) in Chile;
- Assess the current organization of marketing and related supporting activities and foreseen changes in them both in the public and private sectors;
- Assess the level of capabilities in marketing of forest products (wood and non-wood) both in the forest industries and the local-level, small-scale forest products businesses;
- Based on the above assessments and on any existing studies estimate the quantitative and qualitative personnel requirements for domestic and export marketing of forest products (wood and non-wood) in Chile up to 2010;
- Identify the institutes currently providing training in forest products marketing in Chile, including training provided by the major companies and non-governmental organizations, and evaluate the appropriateness of their training programmes, curricula, courses and available resources for the future needs of the forestry sector in the country;
- Identify the needs for improvements of the programmes and curricula of existing training institutions and assess the needs for short-term training courses to meet the most immediate training needs;
- Propose relevant follow-up actions for strengthening and development of training in forest products marketing in Chile;
In drafting an outline and a work plan for the preparation of guidelines:
- Review available training needs surveys by FAO and others for basic information; and
- Draft an annotated outline and a proposed work plan for preparation of a set of guidelines for carrying out surveys of training needs in forest products marketing;
· Drafting of a study report and its presentation to FAO Headquarters for a review by relevant FAO Technical Units. The draft report will be amended and finalized by the Recipient Organization in the light of the comments.
Reporting:
Prepare relevant report for review by concerned FAO Technical Units and amend and finalize it in the light of comments.
Starting date: Upon signature of the Letter of Agreement by both Parties
Duration: 4 months
Reporting: A comprehensive study report in English to be submitted in two typed copies in electronic format (Word 97) to reach FAO Headquarters in Rome by the date agreed upon.
An Assessment of Needs for Marketing Education, Training and Extension
in the Forestry Sector in Chile
DRAFT OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION
- background
- objectives
-
scope
- methodology
2. IMPORTANCE OF FOREST PRODUCTS TRADE IN CHILE
- industries/products (wood and non-wood forest
products; raw materials, primary-processed goods; value-added goods)
- main markets (domestic/export)
- policy environment to support
forest products sector and forest products trade
- future outlook
3. ORGANIZATION OF FOREST PRODUCTS MARKETING
- government bodies controlling forest products
trade
- typical marketing organizations dealing with raw materials
(logs, pulpwood, non-wood forest products)
- typical marketing
organizations at industry level
- typical marketing organizations at
local-level small-scale businesses
- foreseen organizational changes
4. MAIN OBSTACLES IN MARKETING OF FOREST PRODUCTS
- marketing environment
- institutional
and infrastructural aspects of marketing
- industry-level issues
related to marketing
- local community-level issues related to marketing
5. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
- institutions in Chile offering training in
marketing and in forest products marketing in particular
- training in
forest products marketing offered by the major companies
- training in
forest products marketing offered by other organizations
- training opportunities available in non-wood forest products marketing
6. TRAINING NEEDS
- quantitative
·
present personnel involved in marketing and future requirements
(government/industry)
· estimated number of staff
needing training up to 2010
- qualitative
· assessment of the current level of
capabilities in forest products marketing
· foreseen changes in
types of capabilities resulting from the emerging new marketing
environment
· the most critical weaknesses in capabilities that could be corrected through appropriate training
7. PROGRAMMES AND CURRICULA OF THE EXISTING TRAINING INSTITUTIONS
- analysis of the currently available long-term
training programmes and curricula in marketing of forest products (wood and
non-wood forest products) offered in Chile
- proposals for improvement to reflect emerging future needs
8. CONCLUSIONS
9. RECOMMENDATIONS
- detailed proposals for relevant follow-up actions for strengthening and development of training in marketing of forest products in Chile