MASHAV Courses in Israel 2003- Economic and Social Development

Many cooperative organizations throughout the world face inefficient management. The issue of whether there is a management style appropriate to cooperatives is dealt with in this course.

Without sensible financial management, a cooperative, like any other organization dependent on income for its existence, and burdened by expenses, will not function correctly and efficiently.

The core element of this program is the development of management techniques and the utilization of computers as a basis for efficient financial and organizational management of cooperatives and for worker' organizations which will answer their needs at all levels - enterprise, local, national and international.

This course focuses on financial management concepts and techniques utilizing computers. Research tools and methodologies will be a central concern of the course, as will analysis of the role of cooperatives in national economic development. A significant section of the curriculum will be devoted to management exercises utilizing computer technologies and programs.

The course is intended for the leadership of cooperatives, especially for those who are responsible for the day-to-day financial administration of cooperatives.

Importance of entrepreneurship in the knowledge based society; linking vocational and entrepreneurial training: concept, areas of relevance; alternative methods, problems, prospects; vocational training for adults; vocational training at college and school levels; managing of vocational training systems; planning and preparation of training programs; training the trainers; curriculum planning; contribution of SMEs to the economy, society and the individual; teaching managerial skills in vocational training systems; role of government in planning and promoting vocational training; role of central, regional and local governments in promoting entrepreneurship and SMEs; financial and non financial support measures for entrepreneurs and start-ups: problems in training schemes for entrepreneurs and start-ups; local /regional small business development centers (SBDCs); working with specific sectors of the population, such as: women, young people, minority groups; visits to vocational training institutions, colleges and schools, SME support organizations, and more; Preparing final projects.

Designed for: decision makers, senior staff of central, regional and local governments involved in vocational training and in promof SME; senior staff in regional and national vocational education systems; supervisors and directors of vocational training schools; entrepreneurial and SME support and promotion agencies; vocational training programmers and trainers; as well as for leaders of SMEs associations, business trainers and business consultants.

Note: This course will be conducted in cooperation with the Technological College of the Negev. Two major divisions of the ILO (International Labor Organization): the Job Creation and Enterprise Development Division and the Skills, Knowledge and Employability Division will take part in the program.

Non-formal education plays a major role in the overall process of preparing young people for their role in conflict resolution. It is critical to develop appropriate, peace-orientated leadership in youth and student organizations capable of utilizing the frameworks of non-formal education to promote conflict resolution. The course will provide participants with an understanding of the role of civil society in general and of youth and student organizations in particular in conflict resolution. Secondly, it will discuss the modes and methods by which non-formal education can best realize its potential in this regard. Third, it will give participants additional and relevant skills training in such areas as communication methods, democratic leadership and the use of information technology in their activities. Fourthly, it will enable participants to prepare concrete projects relevant to the theme and to their work.

Designed for: leaders and trainers active in youth and student organizations, for educators and educational administrators concerned with the field, for leaders of parents' groups, NGO's and other civil society bodies involved in these activities.

The integration of women in society is important and vital. The woman's role does not start and end at home as wife and mother. Raising the status of women is essential for the social and economic structure of society, important not only for women but also for the society as a whole. The same way that an individual is not separate from his/her society, men, women and families are not separate from society. The course will focus on the role of women in trade unions in general and in leadership positions in trade unions in particular.

The course aims at the enhancement of the status of women in trade unions on the local and national level. It aims at training women to integrate them into leadership positions in their respective organization by providing women with tools and information to enable them to enrich their position in their trade union.

Designed for women leaders of trade unions, on local and national levels concerned with the advancement of gender issues and women leadership positions.

Program includes participation in the international conference of WASME which will take place in Israel in April 2003.

Contribution of SMEs to the economy, to the society and to the individual; free market conditions influencing SMEs; structuring government policies for further development of SMEs; role of central, local and regional governments in promoting entrepreneurship and SMEs; creating and managing a comprehensive support system (consulting, finance, training, information); cooperation between governments and the private business sector for the promotion of SMEs; managing local / regional small business development centers (SBDCs); promoting non farm small businesses in rural regions; SMEs in the service of specific sectors of the population, such as: women, young people, minority groups; support measures for small and beginning exporters; entrepreneurship - promotion and education for adults and school classes; supporting R&D and high-tech start-ups and innovation management techniques; group work on projects; visits to relevant institutions; and participation in the international conference.

Designed for: decision makers; senior staff of government ministries involved in economic, industrial and social development; regional and local governments; entrepreneurial and SME support and promotion agencies; banks and development financial institutions; leaders of chambers of commerce and non-governmental economic and social associations (NGOs); leaders of SME associations: international organizations involved in development issues; economists, business consultants and trainers.

Note: This course is conducted in cooperation with WASME, the World Association for Small and Medium Enterprises and ISMEA, the Israel SMEs Authority. The concluding ceremony of the course will be held at the conference with the participation of the global leadership of WASME.

In most developing countries the majority of the population live in rural areas. Many of them suffer the problems of underdevelopment, both in economic and social terms. These include a dearth of employment opportunities; limited agricultural productivity; lack of effective economic infrastructure in the areas of marketing, supply of inputs, access to credit and limited availability of health, education and other social services. These problems, coupled with a real and growing gap between rural and urban populations in all these respects, lead to a growing exodus of rural populations to the already overcrowded urban centers.

In order to reverse this process, integrated development involving both economic and social empowerment is an absolute necessity. Enhancing agricultural yields through improved technology, farm management techniques and support systems must form part of the solution. However, due to both population pressures and improved technology large numbers of people unable to find gainful employment in agriculture. Rural micro-enterprises, involving the development of agro-industries, non-agriculture based enterprises as well as cooperative in neighboring communities can provide conditions for raising significantly the standard of living of this population and facilitating modernization and community empowerment.

The course is designed for leaders of rural communities and rural cooperatives actively engaged in the economic and social development of their communities as well as for senior staff of governmental and non-governmental agencies and cooperative development agencies. Basic computer proficiency is required.

The core of the course program concerns the notion that trade unions can and should play a significant role in the development of their countries rather than merely serving as a lobby for promoting the interests of their members alone. Despite the fact that this course has been conducted every year since the Institute was established, its contents are adapted to the changing situation of the labor movement in developing countries. The program focuses both on so-called "traditional" activities of trade unions, such as collective bargaining, industrial relations and grievance handling, etc., as well as so-called "non-traditional" activities, such as economic and social activities initiated by trade unions themselves. The course broadly covers all the issues facing modern trade union leaders. It aito enable trade union leaders to serve more effectively the interests of their members, working people, as well as the population as a whole. It aims to provide both the "what" and the "how" of trade union leadership in a rapidly changing world.

The course is designed for qualified leaders of trade unions, staff members of workers' education institutions and officials of governmental departments concerned with labor affairs.

SMEs in knowledge based economy; contribution of high-tech start-ups to the economy, society and individual; government policies in promoting R&D and high tech entrepreneurship; establishing and managing comprehensive and integrative support systems - the central and local/regional levels; financial support; non-financial support; role of NGOs; venture capital funds; technological incubators; the globalization era and its influence; promoting export and international trade; R&D in the agricultural sector; high-tech in peripheral regions; cooperation between governments and the private business sector; role of academic and semi-academic institutions.

Designed for: decision makers; senior staff of government ministries involved in economic, industrial and technological development; entrepreneurial and SME support and promotion agencies; banks and financial institutions dealing with development; leaders of chambers of commerce and non-governmental economic and social associations (NGOs); SME associations: institutions of higher learning and technology; international organizations involved in technological development.

Note: This course is conducted in association with the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and ISMEA, the Israel SME Authority.

The process of rapid urbanization has created new and very grave problems for cities and towns in the developing world - unemployment and under-employment, over-crowding, development of slums and informal settlements, pressure on existing municipal services, social disintegration. A potentially key factor for breaking the cycle of urban poverty is the development of self-help economic initiatives in the informal sector.

Cooperatives, micro-enterprises and income generating projects can serve as catalysts for urban renewal as well as providing income for urban dwellers.

This course aims to empower participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, develop, organize and manage cooperatives and other self-help economic enterprises in the urban informal sector.

The course is designed for leaders of cooperatives and community organizations concerned with the development of self-help economic initiatives in the urban informal sector. Priority will be given to candidates from grass-roots community based organizations such as cooperatives, women's organizations, community development agencies, etc.

Many countries worldwide are concerned with the critical question of how to promote and advance poor populations in order to enable them to integrate into a productive life and enable them to be part of the development process in their communities.

In order to enhance and integrate a poor person into economic activities, be it in production or in the selling of services, cheap, accessible and sustainable finance is necessary.

The creation of credit supply organizations is done through various options by governments, international development organizations etc. Another venue, highly efficient is the creation of savings and credit cooperatives. It is quite clear, though, that the supply of credit for the creation of small-scale enterprises is not enough. The course will also deal with other aspects needed for successful production, such as production planning, the supply of cheap inputs and efficient marketing. All of these aspects when realized in a framework of an efficient and real cooperative (one belonging to its members) give it a greater chance to success.

The course is for leaders of organizations providing micro-credit to developmental aims, to leaders of organizations of income generating projects and small-scale businesses and to leaders of cooperatives.

This course represents the response of NISPED / INCEP-SME to the initiative of an important African financial and banking institution, the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) whose members come from almost all countries in Africa south of Sahara and whose headquarters are located in Cote d'Ivoire. It seeks to enhance and improve the understanding and knowledge of senior staff of financial institutions in Africa dealing with development in regard to SMEs, their potential contribution to development and their integration with other development factors. As a major framework for development financing institutions, AADFI has a special interest in the creation and advance of efficient governmental and other support systems for SMEs, as well as in effective financial and non-financial support measures. In light of the general emphasis on export growth as an element in development, and in light of the special nature of the problems which African nations face in this regard, the theme of support to small and beginning exporters will also be addressed in the course.

Designed for: senior staff of AADFI, its member institutions and its affiliated organizations in English speaking African countries.

In many countries, the majority of the populations live in poverty zones. These people face daily the problems of the lack of development on economic and social basis. The consequences of this situation are the absence of appropriate employment and a very low production level.

The course will endeavor to change this tendency by introducing the idea of small income generating projects for these populations. We are certain that by creating small enterprises, less fortunate populations can be reintegrated into the world of production and productivity.

These small micro-enterprises - income-generating projects when including the Essential Triangle Production (ETP) - are very successful. Along with the economic advancement income-generating projects bring, so too will they push forward social development in the communities.

The course is for leaders of organizations promoting micro-enterprises and income-generating projects for the less fortunate in the urban and rural areas as well as leaders of producer cooperatives and government agencies dealing with the promotion of income-generating projects.

The course will focus on increasing the competitive capabilities and export potential of SMEs:

Contribution of SMEs to the economy, society and the individual; role of central, local and regional governments in promoting entrepreneurship and SMEs and their access to international markets; creating and managing comprehensive support systems for SMEs - the central and local/regional levels; financial annon- financial (i.e. training, counseling, etc.) support measures; role and structure of export promotion organizations; role of SME associations, NGOs and international donors; cooperation between the government and the private sector; the globalization process: from the export-import approach to international cooperation and joint ventures; support measures for small and beginning exporters; supporting R&D and high-tech start-ups;

Information sources for SMEs and on the international markets; Internet and E-commerce - new opportunities for SMEs; international marketing, identification of niches and penetration of new markets; SMEs and international trade fairs; groupings of SMEs for joint marketing of products / services; international trading companies in the service of SMEs; preparation of projects; visits to relevant institutions an to SMEs.

Designed for decision makers; senior staff of central, regional and local government; senior staff of export promotion institutions; commercial and export banks and financial institutions dealing with development; leaders of chambers of commerce and other non governmental economic and social organizations; leaders of SME associations and of SME promotion associations; export and trading companies; economists, trainers and consultants.

Note: This course is conducted in cooperation with the Israel Export Institute.

Democracy and democratic policies are basic tools for successful process of development. The essential composition of a civil society, together and each of the contributing to the success of the introduction of democracy. Democracy is expressed not only in the nation and state level, but also in the various peoples' organizations and other civil society.

The course will cover the introduction and concept of a civil society organization as well as democracy. The program will deal with the various aspects of civil society in planning, human resource development, financial aspects, which will lead to sound civil society organization and will equip organizations with the ability to advance and promote democracy.

Designed for qualified leaders of peoples' organizations and for those in charge of education programs in general and of democracy education in particular. A few places will be reserved for government officials working in the field of education for democracy.