We like to share with you our recently published Training Manual of the Ecological Organic Agriculture Leadership Course (EOALC) that combines a unique mix of leadership topics and technical knowledge on Ecological Organic Agriculture. 

Background of the leadership course

It was in 2019, when The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and IFOAM Organics International joined forces to address an issue, expressed as an area of need by many partner organizations especially the EOA-I network, active in the promotion of ecological organic agriculture: Capacity development and in particular leadership issues. 

In a broad participatory process, GIZ and IFOAM together with representatives of interested organizations developed a course structure and a curriculum. Despite the challenges of the pandemic dominated times in 2021. IFOAM, with GIZ support, successfully piloted the Ecological Organic Agriculture Leadership Course (EOALC) with a very motivated and professional group of participants from across the African continent.  

The aim of this first EOALC was not just to test a new training, but to strengthen Capacity Development Processes for the promotion of Ecological Organic Agriculture in Africa at Continental and Regional Level right from the beginning. Today, we share with you the results of the work together with a heartfelt “thank you” to everyone involved in this activity for their great commitment, time and energy to make the endeavor a success! 

Where to find the document and what is in it?

The “Ecological Organic Agriculture Leadership Course - A Manual for Course Design” is publicly available on the website of IFOAM, in English and French. The manual provides a detailed description of Curriculum Modules, including an outline of their content. It suggests ideas and gives inspiration with regard to methodology and makes reference to useful resources. 

The manual is designed for a wide audience but of course also for those, who were part of the EOALC in 2021 – as participants, facilitators, speakers, or supporting agents – in short, for anyone else committed to Capacity Development Processes for Ecological Organic Agriculture in Africa! You are invited to take a closer look and decide in which way it may support your own activities.  

The idea of this manual is not to give instructions on how to replicate the EOALC in all its detail, but rather to offer guidance on how to plan, prepare and implement interactive training formats of different lengths and foci – always with the ultimate goal to support and strengthen others in their work related to Ecological Organic Agriculture. It mirrors the spirit which was so apparent in the pilot course: 

Everyone can be a leader and a source of inspiration for others!