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Shalom Magazine for the Alumni of MASHAV Training Courses is
published by Haigud - Transfer of Technology for Development.
Haigud, a government company and non-profit organization, serves
as the financial and administrative arm of MASHAV, and functions as a
professional unit to assist in the implementation of MASHAV activities.
MASHAVIsrael’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
State of Israel
CONTENTS
1 FROM THE DESK OF THE HEAD OF MASHAVDANIEL CARMON
2 UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV COOPERATION: SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PROMOTION OF SKILLS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
MAZAL RENFORD
6 SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
SHOSHANA GABBAY
11 THE RIO+20 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
ILAN FLUSS
13 AYITI CHERI – BELOVED HAITI
SHIRLY KAHANA
17 AQUACULTURE AS A COMPONENT OF FOOD SECURITY DR. ISAAK BEJERANO
19 ISRAEL-KENYA-GERMANY TRILATERAL COOPERATION AVNIT RIFKIN
23 FORMULATING A COMPREHENSIVE DRUG REDUCTION STRATEGY:THE ISRAELI MODEL
YUDITH ROSENTHAL
26 LEVERAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND INNOVATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
AMANDINE DESILLE
29 SHALOM CLUBS
31 MASHAV NEWS
39 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
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he State of Israel, through MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation, is a proud member of the international community
and has been sharing Israel’s experience, approaches and knowhow with developing
countries since 1958.
Since our inception we have been engaged in agriculture and rural development,
medicine and public health, community development, education and gender issues,
as part of what is presently known as the Millennium Development Goals.
In our experience, solutions to development challenges lie in the human resource,
and therefore, this is one of the main reasons why we focus our many activities
on human capacity building. Since the establishment of MASHAV, over 270,000
professionals from over 130 countries around the world have participated in our
professional programs.
We in Israel are very familiar with the challenges of development, as we ourselves
made the transition from a developing country into a modern success story. This
particular experience of nation building is the very unique ingredient that Israel,
through MASHAV, brings to its work in the field of sustainable development.
Following important shifts which have occurred in the international development
landscape over recent years, MASHAV has adopted a dual approach to development.
On the one side we engage in active development policy dialogues and development
diplomacy, thus contributing to and shaping discussions at a higher, multilateral
level. At the same time, through our professional programs, we maintain an active
and effective presence at the field level.
We have consistently emphasized the importance of creating effective partnerships
for development to share our know-how and first-hand experience with developing
countries, and to deliver sustainable results on the ground. This need was most
recently enshrined in the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation.
An important element of such partnerships is the unique experience and expertise
which each side brings to the table.
The fight against poverty and hunger requires the combined efforts of all
stakeholders. Israel has taken an active part in the efforts of implementing the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and is joining the international community in
rethinking the Post 2015 MDG Agenda.
Within this framework, I can assure you that we at MASHAV will continue to
explore elements for future international development cooperation to make our most
significant and effective contribution towards achieving the common, interdependent
goals of poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.
Sincerely,
AMBASSADOR DANIEL CARMON
Head of MASHAV
Israel’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation
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The writer is the Director of the Golda Meir Mount Carmel International
Training Center, Haifa, Israel
overty eradication and equal opportunities for women are high on the list of the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for the 21st century. Yet,
despite the important role that women play in driving development, they are still likely to
bear a disproportionate burden in any economic crisis.
Notably, according to the UN Development Program, women make up a majority of
the world’s poor. Since women, moreover, will likely suffer the most during any economic
crisis, there is a great and urgent need to expand economic opportunities for them.
Women, in short, must play a major role in rebuilding the world economy. As Ngozi N. Okonjo-Iweala form the World Bank Group has said, it is not just about fairness, it is “smart
economics.”
During an economic crisis, school drop-out rates may increase among girls as jobs created
tend to target men. Furthermore, higher unemployment rates for women in export-oriented
countries increase female exploitation in both the legal and illicit economy. Significantly too,
accessing credit may be even more difficult for women in times of financial crisis such as we
are experiencing in recent years. Additionally, remittances back to the country of origin may
be reduced, further exacerbating poverty.
While looking at global unemployment trends for women, the ILO pointed out that an
economic crisis could generate millions more unemployed women, jeopardizing equality
gains at work and at home. Indeed, its 2009 Report reconfirmed that gender inequality
remains an issue within labor markets globally. Women suffer multiple disadvantages in
terms of access to labor markets, and often do not have the same level of freedom as men
to choose their place of work.
Unsurprisingly then, gender differences in labor-force participation rates and unemployment
rates are a persistent feature of global labor markets. In its Recommendations for Action,
the USAID (The United States Agency for International Development) includes the creation
of a workforce development strategy that targets women, while meeting market demands;
enhancing women’s ability to succeed in business through general and industry-specific
business training programs and networking opportunities; establishing or expanding business
development services to help start and scale up enterprises owned by women (e.g. women’s
business resource centers, women’s chambers of commerce, or one-stop shops for local
entrepreneurs); expanding women’s access to credit; creating a leadership and mentoring
UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV COOPERATION:SUPPORT SYSTEMS AND PROMOTION OF SKILLS FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
P
MAZAL RENFORD
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program that links successful women entrepreneurs with
up-and-coming businesswomen; creating opportunities for
women’s leadership in economic recovery. Women, quite
clearly then, can be a driving force for economic recovery,
but in order to become productively employed they must
be meaningfully included in economic and workforce
development strategies.
This important issue of workforce development strategies
for women as a vital factor in economic recovery was
firmly grasped by the UNECE (United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe), within the framework of its
UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia
(SPECA) where women’s entrepreneurship can be seen as
an important driver of job creation, economic growth and
development in the member countries concerned. However,
in relation to Central Asia and the South Caucasus,
women continue to be disadvantaged in employment
and are under-represented among entrepreneurs and
decision makers.
Indeed, in our third-millennium world, in Central Asia
as well as elsewhere, where the problem of the status of
women is still acute and where there are fewer jobs than
people wishing to work, entrepreneurship offers both a
personal solution and a national benefit. The role of women
entrepreneurs as contributors to the economic development
of their societies calls out for attention. Women need support
and training in the type of entrepreneurial activities and
fields in which they can most profitably engage.
A favorable environment for microenterprises with
supportive organizational, legal, economic and social
incentives encourages the successful participation of
women in the economic life of their country. As such,
only through empowering women for entrepreneurship
may we hope to achieve many of the UN Millennium
Development Goals.
UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV COOPERATION
Recognizing the vital need for women in the SPECA region
(as well as elsewhere) to receive support and training in
the field of entrepreneurship, UNECE decided in 2006 to
increase its cooperation with the Golda Meir Mount Carmel
International Training Center (MCTC), a pioneer for many
years in this field.
From its establishment over 50 years ago, MCTC’s principal
aim has been to promote the development of women in
developing countries and to foster women’s empowerment.
Set against the background of the strong small-business
support network in Israel, and the wealth of practical
examples available to illustrate its training activities, MCTC
has developed a comprehensive program for Small and
Medium Enterprises (SME) entrepreneurship development,
aimed primarily at women. The MCTC experience shows the
importance of the linkage between training, financing for
micro-credit and poverty alleviation.
Based on its experience and within the framework of
MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development
Cooperation, MCTC has had a most successful partnership
with UNECE, holding joint workshops geared towards
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the economic empowerment of women in Central Asia.
These workshops mainstream gender into the process
of sub-regional economic cooperation, thus supporting
the activities of SPECA’s Working Group on Gender
and Economy.
The UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV programs significantly
promote poverty eradication and increase family income
by means of training, education and skills enhancement
of women in the establishment and running of micro,
small and medium enterprises. These capacity-building
workshops, held in the Russian language, are targeted
at women entrepreneurs from Central Asia. They provide
support, guidance and managerial tools on the use of new
technologies in the management of small businesses.
According to the UNECE statement, “they further address
government institutions in charge of small and medium-
sized enterprise development at national and local levels,
women’s business associations and other civil society
organizations to build their capacity to strengthen the
support environment for women entrepreneurs. Over
the years, the training scheme has not only played an
important role in strengthening support for women’s
entrepreneurship, but has also facilitated networking
among women entrepreneurs across Central Asia”.
By mid-2012, over 300 women professionals from over 250
organizations in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan had
participated in 13 joint UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV workshops
in the fields of Micro-credit and other Support Systems for
Women Entrepreneurs; Information and Communication
Technologies and Support Systems for women in SMEs at
National and Local Levels.
UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV HIGH LEVEL POLICY SEMINAR
PROMOTING INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
FFollowing the successful cooperation between the parties, a high-level policy seminar on Promoting Innovative Entrepreneurship was jointly organized by UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV in March 2011, relating
to government policies aimed at fostering innovative enterprises. Part of the discussion was dedicated
to the design and implementation of gender-sensitive policies, in order to enhance the participation of
women in the innovation process.
This important High-Level Policy Seminar was attended by 28 government officials, business incubator
practitioners and representatives of SME associations, as well as national experts from nine UNECE
member-states: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and
Ukraine, and by UNECE representatives from the headquarters in Geneva.
The participants discussed major issues related to the establishment and operation of innovative
companies in the emerging market economies of the region. Special emphasis was placed on the good
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During these professional training programs, participants have the opportunity to
become acquainted with support systems for small entrepreneurship in Israel, including
technological incubators, to review rural tourism as an income generator, and to discuss the
position of women as entrepreneurs at a time of global change.
In addition to these joint activities, and taking into consideration the key challenges for
women entrepreneurs in rural areas, special attention should also be paid to the specific
needs of self-employed rural women entrepreneurs, raising their awareness to alternative
income sources (e.g. through rural tourism), providing them with role models and best
practices for development and for a more gender-sensitive culture.
The UNECE/MCTC/MASHAV role in tackling gender issues, enhancing the contribution
of women to development in a self-employed entrepreneurial capacity and involving
the grassroots population, remains an on-going relevant and vital part of the struggle to
alleviate poverty and advance the status of women.
By thus continuing to play its part in training women entrepreneurs across Central Asia, in
cooperation with UNECE, by giving them the means to multiply skills and create many more
job openings in their communities, MCTC carries out the vision of one of its founders, Israel’s
first woman Prime Minister, Golda Meir. As she said:
“We women of the world must participate in the necessary war – not against men – but against poverty, ignorance, inequality and injustice. We women are not better than our men, but we are too good for our own countries and the world to do without our active
participation in the struggle for peace and development.”
practices of financing new innovative enterprises at various stages of their life
cycle, as well as the role of product quality in innovation. Particular attention was
given to women’s entrepreneurship.
The seminar ended with a Round Table dedicated to policy options
aimed at fostering innovative enterprises. It emphasized the need
to develop favorable legal and regulatory conditions favoring
entrepreneurship, and stability of property rights as a general basis
for enterprise development.
Promoting trust among various stakeholders and fighting against
corruption were also mentioned as fundamental factors of
innovative entrepreneurship. In some countries, a major
policy challenge for governments is to divert entrepreneurial
initiative and investment from highly profitable mining and trade
sectors in favor of risky innovation activities. During their stay in
Israel, the UNECE team held consultations with the Israeli Government
on fostering future cooperation in the area of eco-innovation.
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REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE ISRAEL ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN,MAY 2012, SPECIAL EDITION RIO+20
srael is a small country, much of it comprised of drylands. It is poor in land and water
resources. Only 2% of its workforce is engaged in agriculture. Yet Israel’s vision for its
agricultural sector is large and optimistic: maximizing production and contributing to rural
and economic development, while protecting scarce land and water resources, reducing
pollution and waste and contributing to biodiversity and landscape conservation.
Since its founding, Israel has invested major resources in fulfilling its vision. Despite severe
shortages of land and water, agricultural productivity and efficiency in Israel have grown
dramatically since the early 1950s – reaching a 4.5-fold increase per unit area and a four-
fold increase per cubic meter of water.
LINKING RESEARCH TO PRACTICE
The success of Israel’s agriculture is largely attributed to the continuous cooperation
between researchers, extension workers, farmers and agriculture-related services and
industries. The agricultural sector is based almost entirely on science-linked technology,
with government agencies, academic institutions, industry and cooperative bodies working
together to meet and overcome challenges.
A significant share of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s research and
development, carried out by the Agricultural Research Organization, is devoted to water
management, integrated pest management, climate change and arid-zone agriculture, open-
space conservation, biodiversity and gene banks, and improved efficiency of agricultural
energy use. This research is complemented and supplemented by the vital applied research
carried out by regional research and development centers, whose investigations focus on
responses to the unique climate, soil and other conditions of different regions in Israel, and
by the agricultural studies carried out in the country’s academic institutions.
Most importantly, agricultural research is translated into programs for the protection
of open landscape; soil conservation; integrated pest management; environmentally
beneficial farm practices; efficient water use and a host of technological advances, that
have helped make Israel’s agriculture productive, efficient and sustainable. For its part,
the public extension service facilitates the transfer of the know-how and the practical
integration of research findings while, at the same time, identifying knowledge gaps
requiring further research.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
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SHOSHANA GABBAY
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MEETING THE CHALLENGE OF WATER SCARCITY
The very limitations on agricultural development in Israel – most especially water
shortages and arid conditions – have catalyzed the development of unique agro-
technologies and agricultural practices, which have earned Israel the reputation of a world
leader in agricultural water use efficiency.
Reductions in the allocation of freshwater to agriculture began in the mid-1980s
in the face of increasing demand for high-quality potable water in the urban
sector by a growing population. Since then, freshwater use within total water
use in Israel has continuously decreased, going from 63% of the total in
1995 to 57.4% in 2010. Within the agricultural sector itself, the portion
of marginal water has risen substantially – from 30.2% of agriculture’s
total water consumption in 1995 to 56.8% in 2010.
Additional measures to increase water use efficiency in agriculture include the
cultivation of drought-resistant strains that require minimal water supplies or can thrive on
brackish water, development of advanced technological innovations for leak detection and
minimization of water losses during irrigation, and introduction of water-efficient irrigation
technologies and irrigation management practices.
Drip irrigation is the best known technology for efficient water use developed in Israel to
improve agricultural productivity while saving substantial amounts of water. First developed
in the 1960s, the technology was refined in subsequent years to include innovations such
as computerized systems, fertigation by applying fertilizers directly to the plant roots and
pressurized drippers which enable uniform distribution of water. Today, some 80% of the
irrigated area in Israel uses drip irrigation, with efficiency rates reaching 95%.
FOOD SECURITY
Israel has traditionally placed high priority on agriculture in order to feed its population
and build its economy. The diversity of soil and climate in Israel has led to the development
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of both open and protected agriculture, including greenhouses, net houses, cooling systems,
aeration systems, energy saving systems and more.
Similarly, the dairy industry has developed technologies to increase average milk
production two and a half times since the 1950s – from 3,900 liters annually to an average
of 11,000 liters per dairy cow, a world record.
At the same time, recognition that dairy farms are major polluters of the environment
has led to a successful reform package, implemented in the 1990s, which has made dairy
producers more efficient on the one hand, and prevented pollution on the other hand. Today
both dairy farms and poultry farms are operated as hermetically closed systems to prevent
waste leakage and potential damage to soil and groundwater and, moreover, the sludge
produced in the farms is used for energy production.
Today, in response to the global food security crisis, added efforts are being invested to
maximize efficient use of water and soil, to improve crop varieties which are resistant to
heat stress, water scarcity, pests and diseases, to develop technologies to increase yield and
post-harvest technologies to protect quality, minimize spoilage and extend shelf-life, and to
preserve varieties of food plants for future generations.
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT
Integrated pest management (IPM) aims to reduce pesticide use in order to minimize
environmental pollution and adverse health effects and slow down the development of pest
resistance to pesticides. It is good for the consumer, good for the farmer and good
for the environment.
The Ministry of Agriculture is actively promoting the transition from traditional
chemical pest control to IPM as an effective way to deal with insect control. Projects
are wide-ranging and include, among others, the use of cover crops to protect the
soil surface, insect-proof nets, insect traps and natural enemies.
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At present, IPM is used in most of Israel’s citrus groves and is increasingly used in the
production of horticultural crops, most notably strawberries, fruit such as avocado and
mango, and peppers. In a concerted effort to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce
pesticide use, the Ministry of Agriculture announced in 2011 that all pepper and strawberry
production in Israel will be based on IPM methods within three years.
Important progress has also been made in the development and introduction of beneficial
natural enemies, such as predatory mites, predatory beetles and parasitic wasps, as
superior alternatives to chemical pesticides in terms of long-term effectiveness, cost and
safety. Biological control, largely pioneered in Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu in northeastern Israel,
has been extended to several agricultural areas in Israel, with notable results in terms of
reduced chemical pesticide use.
WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE
The key message of the Greening the Economy with Agriculture concept note submitted by
the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to Rio + 20 states: “As the single largest sector
using 60 percent of world’s ecosystems and providing livelihoods for 40 percent of
today’s global population, the food and agriculture sector is critical to greening the
economy. There will be no green economy without agriculture.”
Israel’s breakthrough agricultural technologies are globally recognized. They
have led to more efficient water and fertilizer use per unit of output; they have
earned Israel the reputation of a world leader in the reclamation of effluents
for agricultural irrigation. At the same time, Israel’s high rate of population
and economic growth has increased the competition for scarce land and water
resources among all sectors. Moreover, the impact of the intensive agriculture
on the environment remains a challenge and major efforts are now being directed
toward reducing the impacts – decreasing the pollution of water and air, the degradation of
the land and the pressure on biodiversity.
The challenge today is to better integrate the country’s agricultural, environmental, water
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and energy policies so as to continue to guarantee Israel’s population food security while
minimizing the use of natural resources and safeguarding the health of the environment.
Based on past performance, this challenge too will be met.
WITH AN EYE TO THE WORLD
Concurrently with its efforts to promote research and development and advance the export
of modern agricultural technologies, Israel, through MASHAV, its Agency for International
Development Cooperation, has spared no efforts to share its unique experience, assisting
developing countries in overcoming development challenges.
MASHAV has been carrying out professional training and capacity building programs in
Israel and abroad since 1958, including establishing agricultural demonstration farms and
training centers around the world. Its agricultural programming focuses on the introduction
of modern technologies and agro-technical methods that are relevant and adjustable to
local conditions, designed to increase the levels, sustainability and quality of agricultural
production to ensure food security, environmental sustainability and poverty eradication.
Its rime aim is to enhance development, economic growth and employment through
human capacity building and the transfer of expertise and technologies that have
assisted Israel’s own path to agricultural and rural development. MASHAV’s
programs are based on international agricultural training courses in Israel,
overseas on-the-spot courses and workshops, joint agricultural projects,
demonstration projects, and more.
In preparation for the Rio + 20 Conference, MASHAV and the Secretariat of the
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development organized a High Level
Expert Meeting on “Using Green Agriculture to Stimulate Economic Growth and Eradicate Poverty.” The meeting, held in Israel in October 2011 and attended by
more than 70 delegates from 28 countries, including representatives of UN agencies, aimed
to raise awareness of the central role that green and sustainable agriculture can play in
stimulating economic growth, combating poverty and ensuring food security through the
sharing of knowledge, best practices and lessons learned. The focus of the meeting was on
agricultural development under conditions of limited natural resources (including water
and land) and climatic instability. Consideration was also given to the development of
policies, financial mechanisms and bio-physical management systems aimed at increasing
production efficiencies, as well as the level and stability of yields under such adverse
conditions.
In his opening statement to the meeting, Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary General
for Economic and Social Affairs, stated: “Israel has proven to be a leader in agricultural
technology for development, practicing innovation and implementing sustainable solutions
for agricultural development, food security, and climate change adaptation and mitigation.
They have informed and advised the Commission on Sustainable Development on matters
related to integrated water management, drylands and sustainable crop production. We
have much to learn from the Israeli agricultural experience.”
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THE RIO+20 CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
THE WRITER IS THE DIRECTOR OF MASHAV’S POLICY PLANNING AND EXTERNAL
RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
he Rio+20 Conference took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during June 20-22, 2012. At
the Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments,
the private sector, NGOs, academia and major groups, came together to shape ways to reduce
poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded
planet.
Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs. Seen as the guiding principle for long-term global
development, sustainable development consists of three pillars: economic development, social
development and environmental protection.
The objective of the Conference was to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable
development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in the implementation
of the outcomes of the major summits on sustainable development, and address new and
emerging challenges. The Conference focused on two themes: “A Green Economy in the Context
of Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication” and “The Institutional Framework for
Sustainable Development.”
The conference looked into the new emerging global challenges such as energy, water, food
security, urbanization, the oceans, natural disasters and climate change and the future road map
for development, meaning moving from the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) to the SDGs
(Sustainable Development Goals).
The Israeli delegation to the Rio+20 Conference was led by the Minister of Environmental
Protection, Gilad Erdan, and included representatives from government ministries, the Knesset,
local government, the business community, the civil society and academia. Together with
Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Head of MASHAV, and Daniel Meron, Director of Sustainable
Development Division for the UN and International Organizations, we represented the Israeli
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
An Israeli pavilion was set up, showcasing the achievements of the State of Israel in a variety of
areas, such as green technology, promoting sustainability, and Israel’s International Development
Cooperation Program.
During the Conference, the Israeli delegation participated and hosted various events including
an interactive learning center organized by the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) which included
teamwork activities, not only with the aim of imparting knowledge, but also to provide
consultation and practical solutions for specific cases facing the participants’ various countries.
KKL-JNF policy is to share its knowledge with communities around the world. It works in close
ILAN FLUSS
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cooperation with Israeli government ministries to achieve
best practices for land management. It has rich experience
in developing sustainable afforestation and agricultural
practices in semi-arid and arid regions. By using advanced
techniques for watershed management, soil conservation,
and biological control and drought resistant species; it is
able to turn ecological challenges into opportunities.
The Israeli delegation also hosted two side events in
cooperation with international partners: the first on Sharing and Partnering in Urban Water Solutions; and the
second on Using Green Agriculture to Stimulate Economic Growth, Attain Food Security and Eradicate Poverty.
In October 2011 MASHAV hosted an Expert
Group Meeting (EGM) in Israel on “Using Green
Agriculture to Stimulate Economic Growth,
Attain Food Security and Eradicate Poverty.” The
meeting took place in cooperation with the United Nations
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) and
was attended by representatives from 28 member states,
three UN organizations and representatives of civil society
and major groups.
The purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness of the
central role that green and sustainable agriculture can play
in stimulating economic growth and combating poverty,
and ultimately attaining food security, through the sharing
of approaches, best practices and lessons learned.
One of the recommendations of the meeting was
to present the Expert Group Meeting Chair’s Summary at the
Rio+20 Conference. Following the EGM recommendations,
MASHAV organized the side event on Using Green
Agriculture to Stimulate Economic Growth, Attain Food
Security and Eradicate Poverty; in partnership with the
delegations of Canada, Germany, Kenya, Panama and
the United States, focused on the key points from the
EGM Chair’s Summary and presentations, outlining the
perspectives of several countries which participated in
the meeting in Israel.
The side-event was opened by Minister Erdan,
and included the following speakers: Israel’s
Chief Scientist Dr. Avi Perl; Mr. Bob Turnock ,
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada’s Ministry
of Agriculture; Dr. Volker Niendieker, Head of
Division 521 Sustainability and Climate Change,
Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer
Protection, Germany; Ms. Esther Magambo, Coordinator,
Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Kenya; Fermín
Romero, Chief of the Section of Organic Agriculture and
National Plant Protection, Panama; Dr. Elise Golan, Director
for Sustainable Development, Office of the Chief Economist,
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Ambassador Carmon, Head
of MASHAV, emphasized the importance and commitment of
MASHAV to increase its development cooperation activities
and to establish new partnerships for development.
During the Israeli delegation side-event on
Green Agriculture
Israel’s Minister of Environmental Protection Gilad Erdan
(right) and Ambassador Daniel Carmon Head of MASHAV
during the Conference
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THE WRITER IS A REGISTERED NURSE IN ISRAEL. SHE HAS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN NURSING FROM TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY. SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING FOR HER MASTER’S DEGREE AT BEN-GURION UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AND WORKS AS A REGISTERED NURSE AT THE PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT THE SAFRA CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER IN TEL HASHOMER. SHE CONTINUES ASSISTING THE SUPPORT EFFORTS OF THE CCTU PROJECT.
had the privilege of living in Haiti for over seven months. During that time, I led a
unique MASHAV humanitarian assistance project. This experience allowed me to view
the riches of this seemingly impoverished country, and in this essay, I wish to share with you
a bit of my experience, details about the project I worked on, the incredible landscape of
Haiti and the wonderful relationships that were created during my stay.
I resided in the city of Cap-Haitiën, the largest urban center in northern Haiti, with
a population of over 250,000. The northern region is characterized by its rich vegetation,
stunningly beautiful virgin beaches and smiling people. Justinian University Hospital,
Haiti’s second largest public hospital, is located in the center of the city. Here, in April 2011,
a modular structure was built for emergency medicine use, a contribution of the State of
Israel to the people of Haiti as part of the aid efforts after the major earthquake that struck
their country about two years ago. While the earthquake rescue stage has concluded, the
country has had a long history of natural and man-made disasters, and is still on the road
to recovery. Adding to the ongoing turmoil, cholera spread throughout the country since
October 2010; an epidemic that exacerbated the people’s suffering.
Upon completion of the building’s construction, an emergency medicine unit was presented
to the hospital authorities. The objectives of the building-project were to strengthen the
emergency medicine system in the city and transfer the existing emergency room to the new
facility. A MASHAV medical team, comprised of a senior paramedic and two nurses, arrived
in May 2011 to train the local staff in the use of the newly installed auxiliary equipment in
the unit.
A local medical director, Dr. Khalil Turenne, was appointed to the unit; a young physician
with great motivation. His vision and considerable efforts made it possible to overcome
considerable obstacles, logistical issues and restrictions resulting from inadequate local
conditions. The transfer of the emergency room to the new building was delayed for various
reasons, and when I arrived at the hospital on my first day in late July 2011, I found the
unit’s door had been locked.
The first step was to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the old emergency room
in order to better understand what would be needed to ensure that the unit could fully
function within the new building. As part of the assessment I held interviews with many
AYITI CHERI – BELOVED HAITI
SHIRLY KAHANA
I
13
14 15
of the hospital’s staff members, who were eager to cooperate with me.
Strong personal relationships were formed during the process, which greatly
contributed to the success of the mission. We worked together to organize the
unit for work and waited for an opportunity to begin admitting patients.
Dr. Turenne and I, with the support of the hospital’s
management, gathered a small and dedicated team
of doctors, interns and two senior nurses, who all
believed in the importance of working in the
new facility and foresaw its great potential for
improving the hospital’s emergency medicine
system. We devoted our time and efforts
to building a functional unit, in spite of
facing many obstacles. The creation
of this management and training
team became the backbone of all
future development. The approach
guiding our team was to work
towards a future of durability
and sustainability for this
unit while developing both
working and education
frameworks for the future.
The daily encounters
and work-related goals
among this devoted
team greatly enriched
my experience in Haiti.
These special people, jointly and
individually, became for me, and for the entire hospital and
community, a professional and human inspiration. They demonstrated how
motivation and devotion can influence and change an environment of limited
resources in conflicted and struggling locales.
This wonderful team was joined by Avraham Gutman, a young and particularly
talented Israeli EMT (emergency medical technician). He saw in the project
a worthy cause and volunteered for two months to join me in the campaign to
assist and support the local team in building and operating the unit.
An organization called “Konbit Sante”, loosely translated as “A Community
of Health”, which has operated as a partner of the hospital for over 10 years,
became a great support and assistance to the unit and to me personally. Nate
Nickerson, its director in the field, shared his extensive know-how with me.
We discussed hospital procedures, the local culture, optimism and despair,
frustration and expectations. Nate, who is by training an ICU nurse, holds a
doctorate in international public health, and is an exceptionally modest man,
outlined for me the great challenges facing the unit. He and the Konbit Sante
staff, made up mainly of dedicated local employees, were an encouraging
source of support and cooperation for me and for the unit staff to this day.
The initial goal for the unit was to offer patient admission and treatment
for patients in need of higher levels of care. Considering the various barriers
14 15
to achieving that goal, I suggested opening the unit for a trial run using the means at our
disposal for its operation, in order to demonstrate that it could be successful. Although this
was a novel idea, it was adopted by the hospital authorities. It was decided that interns,
student nurses and the devoted but small unit team would constitute the staff over the
following few months, thereby forming the minimal base of human resources needed for the
work. It was also decided that the unit would admit only critical care and trauma patients
that our limited resources could cater to. We renamed the unit the CCTU (Critical Care and
Trauma Unit), adopted the motto “this is what we have and with this we will win”, which
was translated into Creole, and began working with our new approach.
The cooperation and openness of the team allowed an active learning process with
my guidance and support. In this framework admission criteria were written, based on
evidence-based protocols adjusted to local needs and realities. The concept of “triage”
(sorting of patients) was introduced, a patient database was created, and protocols and
reports were written. Appropriate training programs were developed alongside the unit’s
new training team, all taking into account the difficulties and limitations of the local reality.
The main approach that guided me was the belief that we must build up and support the
team’s capacity for independent work in the future.
Continuing MASHAV’s support of the project, another team of Israeli experts was sent
during September 2011, including a doctor and nurse, to assist in the implementation of
a week-long intensive training program in conjunction with the local training team. This
cooperation proved highly productive and under its auspices the training team gained
experience in the process of planning and implementing a complex training program
and an understanding of future study needs. This experience proved itself as a positive
contribution in all aspects to a professional and independent training one-day seminar that
the team organized and executed for 120 interns starting their yearlong internship in the
hospital later that month.
The training team was joined in February 2012 by a professional emergency medicine
team from an American organization called JHI – Jewish Healthcare International. The
week-long training was led successfully by Mrs. Leanna Cossman and was very well
received by all. JHI in cooperation with MASHAV’s support and experts, and together with
‘Konbit Sante’, are presently considering the best ways to continue the education and
administrative management training and the support of the unit in the future.
16 17
During my stay in Haiti many people visited the CCTU, including the current
Haitian President’s wife, Madame Sophia Martelly; government organizations
from the USA and France; international health organizations; NGOs; charity
organizations; and local community dignitaries and leaders. Many expressed
their appreciation of the Israeli efforts to contribute to the strengthening of
emergency medicine capacity in the region. Without exception, the unit and its
staff generated much praise.
About six months after first opening the unit
doors to patients, the Haitian Ministry of Health
appointed some of the original unit team
members as permanent staff. We are still
awaiting the appointment of a permanent
nursing staff that will ensure sustainable
care possibilities. We have established
working relations with the other
hospital departments, organized
a method of storage and efficient
use of equipment, and we have
worked hard to find solutions
to problems such as the lack
of constant oxygen and
blood supply. As of today,
over 300 patients have
been treated in the
unit. Well after my
departure, the unit
is still functioning
within the same
framework, and
in June 2012 the
unit’s professional
team, alongside the
hospital directors, successfully managed a
mass casualty event involving 53 patients injured in a bus crash. The unit’s
staff has a great deal of work ahead of them, and will require continued
guidance and support in order to ensure independent, sustainable working
mechanisms; however, my faith in the people of Justinian University Hospital is
great and I have no doubt that the seeds sown will grow and prosper.
We are looking optimistically to a sustainable future of education and
work with a far greater capacity. It remains for me to express gratitude for
having had the opportunity to participate in this fascinating process in which
every day brought a new challenge, testing the limits of creativity, tolerance,
professionalism and optimism. I am also grateful for all the great friendships
planted deep in my heart and all the images that will never be erased from
my memory. This is a project that constitutes an example of the ability of the
State of Israel to remember where it came from, and to try and share this
understanding and experience by accompanying others on their way.
T
16 17
DR. ISAAK BEJERANO
AQUACULTURE AS A COMPONENT OF FOOD SECURITY
he world’s supply of fish from natural habitats is being depleted, and the quality of
marine ecological systems throughout the world is declining, except in a few places
where environmental awareness is more evident and strict enforcement is applied. In order
to supply the constantly growing demand, the branch of aquaculture has been developing
at a rapid rate over the past few years.
There are a number of natural causes that can bring about the deterioration of water
quality, for instance the growth of algae, invasion of non-endemic species, or changing
quantities of sediment. But man-made factors, including unsuccessful developmental
strategies, have caused, and still cause, some of the gravest damage to marine ecological
systems, hastening their deterioration to the extent that all life in the water is threatened,
as it is on land.
The world’s lakes and seas are closely connected to the daily life of the communities that
surround them. Many lakes were and still are the only source of livelihood and of communities
which depend mainly on fishing. Non-sustainable use of soil, nonexistent development, and
the desire for quick profits are some of the reasons for the widespread deterioration. In many
cases unplanned development has critically affected the communities living in the area of
the water, severely damaging their quality of life, nutrition and food security.
The development of aquaculture in the developing world is expected to lessen the effects
of over-fishing and the damage to natural resources, as well as improving food security and
safety for the populations described above.
Real and effective changes can be made using relatively simple tools that can provide food
and income on the one hand, while preserving natural resources for future generations on
the other. However, rapid development poses risks that have to be taken into account during
the program’s implementation. The communities of fishermen, fish breeders and farmers or
settlers with access to water sources, and those who want to breed fish, are the main target
populations for MASHAV’s development assistance activities in the field of mariculture.
When implementing such development programs, there is a need to adjust them to
the nature of the future production scheme. Fish producers and breeders are therefore
categorized according to their size, the scope of production, the type of fish and marketing
aims.
The basic framework is the family with a pond or two in the yard. This traditional way of
fish breeding is intended to meet the needs of a family, while providing a small surplus for
local marketing. Larger frameworks relate to larger fish farms, which are either government
DR. BEJERANO IS A MICROBIOLOGIST AND WATER QUALITY SCIENTIST.
19
or privately owned. Those involved in fish farms require professional, practical and
theoretical knowledge at all levels of operation, from fish breeding to farm planning up to
the management level, including product care and marketing.
ISRAEL’S RELATIVE ADVANTAGE
MASHAV has been working for many years in the field of agricultural assistance to the
developing world, based on the accumulated experience of 70 years of fish breeding
in Israel. Israel’s know-how and experience are uniquely valuable and meaningful for
developing countries, some of which face a lack of natural resources or arid or semi-arid
conditions.
In the field of aquaculture, Israel has achieved impressive results that have made it a leader
in several areas that are at the heart of development cooperation:
� Fish breeding – diversified technologies for production of different fish species,
under changing intensification conditions (ponds, cages and recirculating
systems).
� Planning and management of a farm – structural principles of fishponds, kinds
of facilities and equipment for fish breeding; data collection and registration.
�
Water quality – water as a medium for life, limnology of fishponds. Importance
of water quality for fish breeding; health aspects of fish, dependent on
water quality; adaptation of fish breeds to different water qualities (salinity,
temperature, etc.).
� Fish and marine animals – morphology and anatomy; fish breeds in
aquaculture, biological aspects of different breeds; types of interface according
to fish species.
� Fish health – causes of disease, diagnosis and treatment, prevention interface.
� Feeding and nutrition – principles of fish nutrition; feed production for different
fish species (use of raw materials).
� Fish propagation – production of fingerlings, naturally or induced, with
hormonal control; production of mono-sex population; planning and
maintenance of breeding schools.
� Feasibility analysis and economical consideration – cost and production aspects
for establishment and continuous maintenance.
� Unionization and cooperative organizations for fish production and marketing.
Professional programs are offered at different levels, from basic material intended for
the domestic fish grower, to the academic institutions dealing with aquaculture, and are
designed to take into consideration available manpower and the physical conditions existing
at the site while taking care not to disrupt the existing traditional labor frameworks.
18
19
he fish stocks in Lake Victoria are dwindling, and, at the same time, the demand
for fish is rising. As a result, the prices of Tilapia, the preferred fish of the region,
have doubled over the past two years. Research shows that tilapia can also be produced in
fish farms, thus creating an alternative source of income which can significantly contribute
to attaining food security.
With the goals of increasing the income of fish farmers’ households, eradicating poverty
in the region and improving the Lake Victoria ecosystem, Kenya, Germany and Israel joined
hands in a trilateral cooperation to improve the farmed tilapia value chain in Kenya.
The cooperating partners include Kenya’s Ministry of Fisheries Development (MoFD),
the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs through MASHAV – Israel’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation, and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and
Development through its implementing partner Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Head of MASHAV, stated that, “although the infrastructure
for raising tilapia in ponds around Lake Victoria already exists, in Israel, agriculturalists are
able to produce higher yields of fish, therefore we are sharing with our Kenyan partners
Israeli best-practices to increase fish yields and thus ensure better income for the local
fishermen.”
The trilateral agreement states two main cooperation areas aiming at the improvement
of the ecosystem of Lake Victoria, based on the needs of the region and the respective
comparative advantages of the partners: the promotion of tilapia fish farming as a business
with an emphasis on “pro-poor” action by supporting capacity-building activities for
establishing tilapia aquaculture; and a contribution to the improvement of wastewater
management around Lake Victoria.
Ambassador Carmon explained that the lake is suffering from an uncontrolled growth of
vegetation that is harming fish habitat, and causing an ecological imbalance that needs to
be addressed. Hence, the two main areas covered in the cooperation agreement will jointly
contribute to reduce the ecological pressure, as well as protect the quality of the lake’s water
as one of the main freshwater reservoirs in Africa. Moreover, a shared objective will be the
reduction of tilapia overfishing, thereby stabilizing the tilapia population of the lake, while
at the same time generating a stable income alternative for the fishermen.
The official launching of the project and the signing of the trilateral agreement took place
in Kisumu, Kenya, on August 16, 2012, in the presence of the Prime Minister of Kenya,
AQUACULTURE PROJECT IN LAKE VICTORIA
ISRAEL-KENYA-GERMANY TRILATERAL COOPERATION
AVNIT RIFKIN
T
(From left to right)
Prime Minister of Kenya,
H.E. Raila Amolo Odinga;
Danny Ayalon Deputy
Foreign Minister of Israel;
and Dirk Niebel Federal
Minister of Economic
Cooperation and
Development of
the Federal Republic
of Germany
Signing ceremony of
the trilateral agreement
during the official
launching of the
project in Kisumu
20
H.E. Raila Amolo Odinga. Signing on behalf of the parties were
Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and
Development of the Federal Republic of Germany; Amason Kingi,
Kenya’s Minister for Fisheries Development, and Danny Ayalon,
Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel.
Following the ceremony a Tripartite Implementation Agreement
was co-signed by Prof. Micheni J. Ntiba, Permanent Secretary,
Kenya’s Ministry of Fisheries Development; Mr. Hendrik
Linneweber, Country Director GIZ Kenya; Dr. Andrea Bahm,
Program Manager Promotion of Private Sector Development
in Agriculture (GIZ); and Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Head of
MASHAV.
FARMED TILAPIA VALUE CHAIN
The value-chain concept is a market-oriented business model
that refers to all the activities involved in the production cycle of
a specific product, from primary production, up to final purchase
by the consumer. In order for all those involved in the value
chain to benefit from it, it is important to bring all the players
together and address the drawbacks of every link in the chain.
In the case of the farmed tilapia value chain these include inputs
supply, the availability of quality feeds, pond management
and marketing.
The value-chain approach usually begins from market demand
rather than from supply demand. This enables the entrepreneurs
22
to identify other players and facilitators who may influence their production process and
thus recognize their potential contribution in removing obstacles on the road to product
development.
RAMOGI INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES – RIAT
The challenges facing the tilapia value chain were identified based on the results of
an analysis carried out at the beginning of 2012, and on the outcome of a Tilapia Value
Chain Workshop organized for stakeholders from the sector. Challenges include the need to
improve the ability of supplying quality fingerlings at affordable prices; the provision and
availability of affordable and high-quality feeds; the need for increased business orientation
on small-scale fish farms; and the establishment of a collective marketing system.
To address these challenges, a professional fish-farming capacity building and training
unit was established at the Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technologies (RIAT) in Kisumu.
New capacity building programs are currently being combined with the Institute’s existing
training activities. The unit was officially inaugurated following the signing ceremony of
the Joint Trilateral Tilapia Cooperation Project. Ambassador Carmon noted that the issue of
wastewater treatment as included in the agreement will be the focus of the second stage of
the project. Following an outcome assessment, it is intended to expand the project to include
Uganda and Tanzania.
22 23
FORMULATING A COMPREHENSIVE DRUG REDUCTION STRATEGY:THE ISRAELI MODEL
YUDITH ROSENTHAL
THE WRITER IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFRI INTERNATIONAL TRAINING CENTER.
rug abuse is a global problem. It destroys lives and communities and affects
people worldwide. Drug abuse has devastating social and economic consequences
for all members of the community and society. Over the years, it has become clear
that the drug problem needs to be addressed in terms of reducing both demand and
supply, two interconnected issues which must be incorporated as part of an integral drug
control strategy.
Although governments are increasingly implementing integrated demand and supply
reduction approaches and strategies, in many cases there exists a clear lack of coordination
between all relevant agencies.
Israel’s experience in incorporating demand reduction approaches into its national drug
control strategies, while emphasizing the essential need for effective cooperation and
coordination between the relevant government ministries and non-governmental entities
involved in the battle against drugs, can serve as a showcase for other countries facing
similar challenges.
Since 1988, Israel’s drug control efforts have been coordinated by the Israel Anti-Drug
Authority (IADA). Under IADA’s umbrella, professionals in governmental and non-
governmental agencies work together to tackle drug-related issues in Israel.
This coordination includes cooperation stretching across all areas of drug control, from
prevention and treatment to law enforcement. A key issue of Israel’s drug control strategy
and an integral aspect of the national strategy is demand reduction.
Demand reduction is addressed at all levels, with programs ranging from primary
prevention programs at schools and in communities, to prevention programs for IDF soldiers
to harm-reduction programs aimed at drug abusers. Programs are based on the belief that
different communities and subpopulations have different needs; therefore all programs
should be culture and gender sensitive.
Israel’s diverse population is composed of immigrants from all over the world. The various
predominant religious and ethnic groups form a heterogeneous population of different
backgrounds, cultures and customs. With this diversity in mind, culture-sensitive programs
have been created addressing the needs and characteristics of the different groups.
Treatment and rehabilitation programs are offered to all those harmed by drugs, with the
belief that each individual requires a different kind of treatment.
D
25
Programs include drug substitution methods, detox centers and residential treatment
facilities, and are specifically tailored for all types of sub-populations, ranging from young
people to those drug abusers currently in the prison system.
The belief that sharing knowledge and working together are essential elements in the
global war against drugs has lead to a strategic partnership between the IADA and the
Ofri International Training Center, within the framework of MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for
International Development Cooperation, with the aim of sharing with other countries the
knowledge, best practices and experience accumulated in Israel.
IADA’s vast experience in sharing and exchanging knowledge derives from establishing
and fostering relations with other countries all over the world. Over the years, IADA has
hosted a large number of international delegations from countries including Croatia,
Singapore, Russia, Costa Rica and Romania, who come to Israel to learn about its drug-
control efforts and strategies. With regional cooperation on the rise, and with the assistance
25
of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s Regional
Office in Cairo, IADA has strengthened its relations with the
Palestinian Authority, hosting workshops and study tours.
Based on the Israeli experience in the field, a program
on “Formulating a Comprehensive Drug Strategy – The
Israeli Model” was jointly formulated by IADA and the
Ofri Center, for professionals from developing countries
who work in the field, and more specific in the areas of
prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. The program
was held in Israel in July 2012, with the participation of 29
professionals from Angola, Benin, Belarus, Cameroon, El
Salvador, Georgia, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kosovo,
Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Nigeria, Serbia, Uganda, Thailand
and Vietnam.
The main goal of the program was to offer participants an
in-depth overview of Israel’s drug-control strategy, based
on the work done by the Israel Anti-Drug Authority as the
principal coordinating body in the field; as well as stressing
the importance of coordination between all agencies
involved in the country’s drug-control strategy by exposing
the participants to Israel’s demand-reduction strategy, as
an integral component of the national drug-control strategy
by emphasizing all related issues: prevention, treatment
and rehabilitation, community action and more.
The course included lectures and workshops emphasizing
group work, interactive teaching, role playing, and
additional participatory techniques. Some of the topics
dealt with during the course were IADA’s structure, goals
and strategies; prevention programs, approaches, theories
and policies; treatment and rehabilitation programs and
policies; community development; surveys and evaluation
methods; and human resource training.
The overall goals of the programs were to address the
specific needs of the participating countries and generating
a personal commitment among the course participants
to promote drug control efforts in their countries and
communities based on the models developed in Israel.
The course also encouraged continuing and meaningful
partnerships between Israel and the participating
delegations, including assistance in the implementation of
programs and strategies in their countries, while providing
an exceptional platform for exchange of knowledge
between participants based on their national experiences.
26 27
LEVERAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND INNOVATION FOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
AMANDINE DESILLE
THE WRITER IS THE PROGRAM’S COORDINATOR AT THE WEITZ CENTER FOR
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
he promotion of innovation and creativity among economic players is essential to
reinforce local development. Through focusing on the local assets available and their
protection and promotion, it permits a region to better compete at national and global levels.
The strengthening of competitiveness must be achieved at the economic level, but also at the
social and environmental level. A region must ensure the promotion of local entrepreneurship
and business development, as well as provide the relevant social and environmental components
to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.
Yet emerging regions worldwide often fail to harness and protect their local assets for
development. Available human, social, economical and even environmental resources “leak
out of the bucket.” Skilled population migrates to more attractive centers, businesses establish
outside the region, and innovation and creation are not fostered in the local area.
To better compete at national and global levels, and enhance their development processes,
regions should reinforce the innovation process. The implication of this process for a range of
economical sectors should be reevaluated. Finally, the role and involvement of the different actors
along the innovation process – from academia to governments and the entrepreneurs themselves
– should be thought differently.
The State of Israel, often referred as the “start-up nation”, has been recognized as a global
leader, leveraging innovation, creativity, competitiveness and entrepreneurship for development.
Israel has the largest pool of companies listed on NASDAQ, challenging the USA. The country
has the second highest concentration of high-tech companies in the world, after the well-known
Silicon Valley. And Israel has succeeded in maintaining a stable rate of growth and overcome
world economic crisis challenges.
Different factors contribute to fostering its very dynamic economy. Israel is the residence of
numerous researchers, and the country ranks first worldwide for the number of scientists per
10,000 workers, while its scientific research is ranked third worldwide1. Israel invests largely
in Research & Development, this sector accounting for 4.7% of GDP2. Israel therefore ranks first
worldwide in terms of R&D investments. Additionally, its venture capital market is the second
largest worldwide3.
T
1 Ministry of Industry and Trade in Israel, 20052 National Science Foundation, 2010 3 European Investment Bank, 2001
26 27
However, these factors could not have brought sustainable
development at regional and local levels without adequate
policies and support systems in developing and protecting
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), and without adapting
innovation processes and entrepreneurship leverage to
local development context.
In this context, the Weitz Center for Development Studies
and MASHAV developed a training program integrating the
work of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
and harnessing the Israeli experience in the field.
Conducted in December 2011, the training program was
attended by 24 participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan. All participants held managerial positions
in the Ministries of Economy, of Education and of Justice
of their countries, as well as at agencies of Intellectual
Property, universities and academic institutions.
Combining WIPO’s experience in using the IPR system
to stimulate innovation and creativity for economic
development, as well as the Weitz Center’s experience
in innovations in peripheral areas for local economic
development, this 12-day training program enabled
participants to learn about available legal tools to protect
Intellectual Property Rights in Israel; to better understand
how national policies and programs can stimulate
innovation; to value the importance of national and local
support systems and services for local socio-economic
development; and to better understand the roles of the
different actors along the innovation process.
Participants also benefited from first-hand experiences
while visiting Israel. They visited and applied research
agricultural center in the Negev, a Tel Aviv University
knowledge transfer company (Ramot), a technological
incubator located in Misgav industrial park, a bio-tour of
Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, and more.
Following the success of the program, MASHAV, WIPO
and the Weitz Center are now planning a new professional
program to foster innovation and leverage of IPRs for
local sustainable development in target regions through
capacity building and institutional development. The
program will target professionals from sub-Saharan
countries. The program is planned to include various
phases including a seminar in Israel (December 2012) to
expose the participants to the Israeli experiences relevant
to developing countries in leveraging Innovation and
Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) for local development.
The seminar will be followed by an on-site project. A case
study will be presented, including the created model’s
principles and the lessons learnt.
29
GTHE WEITZ CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES
STRENGTHENS ITS POSITIONING IN PROVIDING GREEN GROWTH-RELATED TRAININGS
Green growth is the means by which the current economy can make the transition to
a sustainable economy. Economic and social sustainability on the one hand, and social and
environmental sustainability on the other, have been found to be not only compatible, but also
largely complementary. Not so with economic and environmental sustainability, as growth has
come largely at the expense of the environment, which is the reason why Green Growth aims to
ensure that economic and environmental sustainability are compatible.
Green Growth policies typically include aspects of mitigation of climate change and energy
independence; creation of new engines for economic growth, as the development of green
technologies or greening of industries; and improvements in quality of life and livelihoods,
greening the land and water or creating green transport infrastructure.
Green growth is a very relevant concept for the developing world. Indeed, even if economic
growth is essential to alleviate poverty, build livelihoods and improve the quality of life, it is not
the only essential ingredient. Green Growth builds on existing policies and measures. It reinforces
the need to address the social, economic and environmental dimensions of development. It places
further emphasis on growth as a central driver of development and seeks to promote a better
valuation of natural and social assets in decision-making processes to remove inefficiencies in
the current economic model, that have led to environmental degradation, pollution and climate
change.
On October 23, 2011, the Israeli government approved the proposal of the Minister of
Environmental Protection and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor to prepare a national
green growth strategy for the country for the years 2012 to 2020. As of today, the national plan,
scheduled for submission for government approval in 2012, will outline current and future
measures for achieving green growth, review the cost/benefit of each of the recommended
steps, set forth targets and tools for their implementation, and define economic, social and
environmental outcome indicators to track the success of the plan in achieving its targets.
In recent years, the Weitz Center has been exposing professionals from developing countries
to the benefits of harnessing environmental assets for local development. The center carries
out an annual training program on poverty-environment linkages, within the framework of
MASHAV and in partnership with UNEP (the UN Environment Program). Last year, the center
also organized an international training program on leveraging urban nature and biodiversity
for local development.
This October, the Weitz Center staff will have the opportunity to introduce the Israeli
experience to Vietnamese leaders during a MASHAV on-site training seminar on Green
Growth-oriented Local Sustainable Development, to be held in the cities of Hanoi and
Danang. The Weitz Center and MASHAV will take a step forward integrating in their 2013
program, and will offer an international training program on “Green Growth – Policy
Measures as a Tool for Local and Regional Sustainable Development”.
28
29
The Embassy of Israel together with
the Shalom Club members organized a
special activity for the children of
Meycauayan City, Bulacan, and in cooperation
with a feeding program at the Sto. Nino Parish
Hall. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines
H.E. Menashe Bar-On together with Madame
Esther Bar-On and Deputy Chief of Mission
MASHAV maintains contact with many of its former course participants through its network of
more than 70 Shalom Clubs worldwide. These clubs serve as a forum for MASHAV alumni to
participate in professional and social activities. Members are invited to attend local lectures by skilled
experts, to exchange ideas and to organize technical cooperation and humanitarian assistance as well
as holding cultural functions. Among the many activities that have been organized by Shalom Clubs
have been workshops on professional topics, organization of events to raise funds for local charities,
mobilization of club members to donate their professional services for community development and
humanitarian activities. Members of the Shalom Clubs play an integral role in determining the focus and
scope of programming of their clubs.
Yaniv Revach, treated the children to a party
full of fun and laughter. Meycauayan is a first-
class urbanized city in the province of Bulacan,
which has endured severe typhoons including
Typhoon Pedring.
The Philippines Shalom Club, led by Ms. Zeny
Ubaldo, is very active. The Nueva Ecija Chapter,
with nearly 80 members, old and new, is the
biggest and one of the most active chapters in
the Philippines. As the site of MASHAV’s project
in the country, the Philippine-Israel Center for
Agricultural Training (PICAT), the province sent
more than 50 participants to MASHAV courses
between 2008 and 2011.
The New Delhi Chapter of the Shalom
Club India was officially launched in
September at the India International
Center in New Delhi, in the presence of over
40 graduates from MASHAV courses and the
staff of the Israeli Embassy. During the event,
participants were briefed regarding the different
MASHAV agricultural programs being carried
out in several areas of the country. The new
chapter is considering various activities for the
coming months.
PH
ILIP
PIN
ES
IND
IA
SHALOM CLUBS
The bi-annual meeting of the
Ecuador Shalom Club took place
in June in Riobamba with the
participation of over 60 MASHAV course
alumni from all over the country and in the
presence of Israel’s Ambassador to Ecuador
Eyal Sela and the Embassy’s staff. The event
included a professional visit to a MASHAV
alumni’s greenhouse, where Israeli technology
is being used in the production of tomatoes;
and professional presentations in the areas
of teachers’ training in indigenous and early
childhood education. Following the meeting,
the Shalom Club members decided to create
a voluntary consulting body to assist in the
development of different areas of the country.
The Shalom Club Paraguay together
with the cultural association
“Friends of Israel” organized in April
a Solidarity Campaign to the remote indigenous
community of Jerusalem. A delegation
comprised of members of both associations
distributed clothes, school supplies, medicines
and food, which were donated by various
EC
UA
DO
RP
AR
AG
UA
Y
organizations. This program has been carried
out for several years and it will be expanded to
include additional vulnerable communities.
The re-launching of the Kenyan
chapter of MASHAV’s alumni Shalom
Club took place in May at the Nairobi
International Conference Center (KICC), in the
presence of the Israeli Ambassador to Kenya
H.E. Gil Haskel. During the event, elections were
held for a new management board that will lead
the Shalom Club in its future endeavors.
KE
NYA
30
The Head of MASHAV, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, and
Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, signed in April a
Memorandum of Understanding in Washington to enhance
bilateral cooperation on food security within the framework
of the “Feed the Future” Initiative focusing initially on
Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. Shah said that the US
recognizes Israel’s achievements “in specific areas that
are of increasing value to some of our top priorities,”
especially Israel’s expertise in water conservation, dry-land
management, and the “ability to turn arid lands into highly
productive farms.”
Ambassador Carmon stated that “development plays
a more and more important role in Israel’s foreign policy.
It’s our obligation as an OECD member to assist with
the development of other countries. MASHAV has been
working for over 54 years in the developing world sharing
Israel’s unique technologies and expertise to overcome
development challenges.”
USAID and MASHAV are committed to combating poverty
and hunger, by working with partner institutions in
developing countries to increase food security. The two
agencies plan to work together on improving agricultural
MASHAVhttp: / /mashav.mfa.gov.il News
MASHAV AND USAID SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT TO ENHANCE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT
A cooperation agreement was signed between the Vinnitsa
City Council in Ukraine and MASHAV aimed at improving
the local medical and health-care services. Within the
framework of the agreement, MASHAV has recently
completed the establishment of a modern diagnostic
center, which included renovating infrastructures and the
installation of medical equipment including CT scanners
and radiological and ultrasound facilities. During his official
visit to Ukraine in July, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman inaugurated the newly
established medical center. MASHAV will also provide
professional training for the operation and maintenance of
the new center.
ISRAEL-UKRAINE COOPERATION
production and productivity; reducing pre- and post-harvest
losses; irrigation and water technology; and cross-cutting
issues, including implementation of applied research and
development results, gender issues, capacity building,
nutrition, and climate change.
Achieving real progress on global food security requires new
approaches and new partnerships. By working together at
both the strategic and operational levels, MASHAV and
USAID can extend the impact and increase the efficiency of
their programs and thus achieve better outcomes.
31
ISRAEL AND UNIDO SIGN AID COOPERATION AGREEMENT
MASHAV and the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) signed in May a Memorandum of
Understanding to increase cooperation on food security,
water management, the empowerment of women and
industrial development in Africa and in least developed
countries. This is an additional step in creating international
partnerships in the area of development, and a recognition
and appreciation of Israel’s abilities in and contribution to
global development.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the
Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Rafael Barak. Signing the agreement on behalf of the UN
was the Director General of UNIDO, Dr. Kandeh Yumkella.
The Head of MASHAV, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, signed
on behalf of Israel. The cooperation between MASHAV
and UNIDO builds on the two organizations’ mutual and
complementary capabilities and will focus on capacity
building in such areas as agriculture-related technologies
and biotechnology; support to small and medium
industrial enterprises; women’s empowerment; women’s
entrepreneurship development; rural entrepreneurship
development; and environment and sustainability.
A memorandum of Understanding was signed in October
between the three parties establishing the guidelines for a
trilateral cooperation program aimed at setting a common
framework to assist Senegal in its efforts to promote and
sustain a fair socio-economic development process. The
TRILATERAL COOPERATION ISRAEL-SENEGAL-ITALY
DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUES
In order to advance the UN international development
agenda beyond 2015 and in accordance with the Busan
Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, MASHAV
has established an active dialogue for development
with other donor countries and with fellow donor
agencies to map out the strengths and challenges of the
Millennium Development Goals. Two such dialogues took
place in February:
Israel-Germany: An Israeli delegation headed by the
Head of MASHAV, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, met with
officials from The German Federal Ministry for Economic
Development Cooperation (BMZ); the Foreign Ministry; the
German Chancellor’s Office; and the Ministry of Agriculture;
and with representatives from UNCCD (The United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification) and UNFCCC (The
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).
agreement states that training activities will be based
on Italian and Israeli best practices and be designed
around specific pro-poor oriented projects. The program
will be implemented by a qualified staff in terms of both
professional expertise and institutional qualifications.
Different aspects of cooperation between the parties
were discussed during the meetings, with the aim of
exploring elements for a future framework of international
cooperation for development. Israel and Germany are
currently cooperating in Ethiopia, Kenya and Ghana, and
are discussing the possibility of expanding cooperation to
additional countries.
Israel-France: The first development dialogue took place
in France, following the Cooperation Agreement signed
between Israel and France in 2012. The parties including,
among others, representatives from MASHAV and the AFD
(Agence Française de Développement), presented during
the dialogue their policies, approaches, methodology and
tools for development. Main fields for future cooperation
were discussed, including food security (agriculture and
irrigation), health, and gender issues.
32 MASHAVhttp: / /mashav.mfa.gov.il News
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
AGRITECH ISRAEL 2012
The 18th International Agricultural Technology Exhibition,
Agritech, one of the world’s most important exhibitions in
the field of agricultural technologies, was held in May, at
the Israel Trade Fairs and Convention Center in Tel Aviv.
The exhibition program included the Conference of the
International Committee for Plastics in Agriculture (CIPA),
held once every three years, with the participation of
distinguished speakers.
Ambassador Daniel Carmon, Head of MASHAV, took part
in CIPA’s professional panel on Implementing Advanced Agricultural Technologies in Developing Countries – Challenges, Practices and Vision; and presented “Israel’s
Contribution to Global Food Security and Enhancement of
Sustainable Agriculture.” Participants in MASHAV’s courses
who were in Israel attended the Conference.
During Agritech 2012, MASHAV hosted a High-Level
Dialogue on Agricultural Innovations for Integrated Rural Development with the participation of Israel’s Minister of
Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms. Orit Noked, who
opened the event; visiting Ministers from around the world;
and other high-level officials. International cooperation and
the sharing of best practices and solutions for integrated
rural development are of utmost importance for developing
countries, where the challenges of food security, poverty
and hunger are most acute. The purpose of the event was to
share innovative approaches and agricultural technologies
developed and implemented by Israel.
THE 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DRYLANDS, DESERTS AND DESERTIFICATION
The Conference took place at the Sede Boqer campus of Ben-
Gurion University of the Negev, in November, along with
The Ben-Gurion University of the Negev the Jacob Blaustein
Institutes for Desert Research, UNESCO, the UNCCD and the
Israeli Foreign Ministry. The Sede Boqer Conference has
emerged as an important global gathering of scientists,
field workers, industry, government, CSOs, international
development aid agencies and other stakeholders from
over 60 countries concerned about land degradation in the
drylands, and their sustainable use and development.
The Conference focused on the outcome of Rio+20 (UN
Conference on Sustainable Development – UNCSD) and
considered the science required for implementing the UNCSD
recommendations relevant to drylands and desertification,
and provided an opportunity for a diverse group of experts,
policy makers and land managers to consider a range of
theoretical and practical issues associated with combating
desertification and living sustainably in the drylands.
3333
34 MASHAVhttp: / /mashav.mfa.gov.il News
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM INTRODUCED IN ACCRA, GHANA
The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Alfred O.
Vanderpuije, and Israeli Ambassador
H.E. Sharon Bar-li welcomed in May
the participants of MASHAV’s first Early
Childhood Education (ECE) course in
Accra, the capital city of Ghana. This
course marks the first stage of the
implementation of the very successful
ECE program piloted in Kumasi three
years ago by MASHAV and the
Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI). The
program focuses on using proven Israeli
knowledge and experience in the field
of ECE and training qualified teachers
in Ghana focusing on the approach of
“Learn through Play” approach.
Following the commencement of the
ECE project in Accra, the First Lady of
Ghana, Dr. Ernestina Naadu Mills, arrived
in a presidential visit to review the ECE
project in Kumasi. The First Lady was
accompanied by Ambassador Bar-li and
MASHAV’s experts Janette Hirschmann
and Aviva Ben-Hefer. Together, they
visited the kindergartens participating
in the project, where the First Lady was
introduced to the flexible class concept
and experienced the “Learn through
Play” approach.
The High-Level Symposium took place in November at
the Ofri International Training Center, near Jerusalem,
under the auspices of MASHAV and of the International
Taskforce on Teachers for Education for All (EFA). The
goal of the Symposium was to contribute to an exchange
of ideas regarding the challenge of improving the
educational systems of different countries, and served
as a platform to explore and analyze new perspectives.
It focused on the use of technology and educational
performance, including the impact of digital media,
attitudes, learning methodologies, and the implications
HIGH-LEVEL SYMPOSIUM ON EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ICT
these have on education and teacher preparation. The
Symposium also presented the Israeli experience in
education innovation in applying a holistic approach
focused on the implementation of far-reaching curriculum
changes; the creation of relevant digital contents for use
in education; supplying ongoing support and professional
training; and the creation and maintenance of essential
infrastructures. Participants included Deputy Ministers
of Education and Directors General of Education Ministries,
as well as high-level experts in ICT for Education and
teacher development.
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
The Mayor of Accra, Hon. Alfred O. Vanderpuije, and Israeli Ambassador
H.E. Sharon Bar-li inaugurating the ECE project in Accra
The First Lady of Ghana during her visit
35
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
An international workshop, entitled Profiles of Trafficking: Patterns, Populations and Policies took place at the Golda
Meir Mount Carmel International Training Center in
May, under the auspices of MASHAV and in cooperation
with the Ministry of Justice and the US Embassy in
Tel Aviv.
The OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe) Special Representative and Coordinator for
Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Maria Grazia
Giammarinaro, spoke at the workshop underlining that
victims of trafficking are subjected to multiple violations
of human rights.
Ms. Giammarinaro also meet with the Israeli National Anti-
Trafficking Coordinator, the Head of MASHAV, the Head of
the Parliamentary Sub-Committee for Anti Trafficking in
Women, as well as other senior public officials from the
Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, and Social Affairs
and Social Services.
TAILOR-MADE WORKSHOP FOR DELEGATION FROM TURKMENISTAN
A group of 24 women entrepreneurs from
Turkmenistan took in August a 17-day tailor-made
Workshop on Development of Entrepreneurship
for Women’s Empowerment. This first professional
training activity took place within the framework
of the Memorandum of Understanding signed
between MASHAV and the UNDP Turkmenistan
in 2011.
The entrepreneurs (among them business
consultants and UNDP officials) from different
regions of the country represented both small
and large businesses. The purpose of the
program was to present the Israeli experience
in building/expanding a small business effectively as a tool of
economic empowerment and strengthening the status of women.
ISRAELI EMBASSY IN ETHIOPIA REACHES OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
On the occasion of Israel’s 64th independence
anniversary, marked on April 26, the Embassy of
Israel in Addis Ababa contributed a donation to
a local humanitarian organization called AHOPE
Ethiopia. The organization is an Ethiopian
Residents Charity which is a pioneer in the area
of provision of specialized care to destitute HIV-
positive orphans as well as to vulnerable children
and their extended families, in order to improve
their health and general living condition. Mr.
Amir Maimon, Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli
Embassy, said “this token reflects the desire to
expand our fruitful cooperation, creating a real,
humane bridge between our two countries.”
A first-of-its-kind state-of-the-art emergency and trauma unit was
established at Mulago Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. The hospital,
which serves as a referral center in the country, was built in 1962 by
the Israeli construction company “Solel Boneh” and is the biggest and
most important in the country. It serves as a professional referential
center in all medical fields and is affiliated to the renowned
Makerere University.
The Unit was officially inaugurated in August by Israeli Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, together with the Head of
MASHAV, Ambassador Daniel Carmon, and Uganda’s Health
Minister Dr. Christine Ondoa.
The decision to undertake the project originated following the
successful cooperation between Israel and Uganda in the field of
human capacity building in the areas of emergency and disaster
preparedness. Recent terror attacks and natural disasters in
Uganda emphasized the need to establish such a unit. The project
included rebuilding a 250-square-meter site within the hospital
grounds and converting it to serve as an emergency and trauma
center including appropriate infrastructure and medical systems;
as well as the provision of state-of-the-art equipment. An Israeli
building team carried out the construction and installed the
equipment, which was shipped from Israel. The first professional
clinical and technical training team from Israel’s Poriya Hospital
comprised of one doctor and two nurses arrived in Kampala in
July to accompany the local personnel during the unit’s first
operational steps.
36 MASHAVhttp: / /mashav.mfa.gov.il News
ESTABLISHING A TRAUMA UNIT IN UGANDA
Deputy FM Ayalon and Minister Ondoa
ESTABLISHING A DIALYSIS UNIT IN FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE
Based on the Sierra Leone government’s appreciation
of Israeli capabilities and its interest in renewing the
previously successful cooperation with MASHAV, a request
was addressed to the Israeli Foreign
Ministry for the establishment of a
first-of-its-kind dialysis unit to improve
the country’s health system. The First
Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Sia Nyama
Koroma, specified the needs and
expectations in a note sent through
the Honorary Consul to Sierra Leone in
Israel, Mr. David Ben Bassat.
Following an analysis made by both
the Israeli Embassy in Dakar and MASHAV’s experts
regarding the project’s potential implementation, it was
decided to establish the unit at Connaught Hospital – the
biggest and most important governmental hospital in the
capital, Freetown.
The project was implemented at the beginning of 2012.
It includes the upgrading of the
designated site and adjusting it to
local needs, including training in
Israel of a local medical team (doctors
and nurses); purchase, delivery and
installing the equipment by MASHAV’s
experts, training and professional
support of the local team both in
Israel and in Sierra Leone from the first
operational steps to full professional
autonomy. The unit includes four dialysis stands and aims
to end the need of sending patients abroad for expensive
and, in many cases, ineffective medical treatment.
Ambassador Carmon signs the Implementation Agreement
37
EDUCATORS FROM KENYA AT THE OFRI CENTER
The third course on Education towards Sustainable Development (ESD) for educators from Kenya took
place at the Ofri Center in June. The program is
based on the understanding that the promotion and
implementation of ESD should become an integral
element in the school curriculum through long-term
development and support activities. So far over 90
Kenyan educators have taken part in the program.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
HONDURAS
Humanitarian assistance was to Honduras sent via the
Israeli Embassy in Guatemala in February, following the fire
in Comayagua prison that left more than 300 inmates dead
and many injured
FIJI
Assistance was sent via the Israeli Embassy in Canberra
to Fiji, following the severe flooding which hit the country
in January.
MONTENEGRO
Following the severe snowstorms and extreme cold weather
which hit the country in February, the State of Israel,
through MASHAV, sent a special emergency air cargo
containing blankets, winter tents and additional equipment
to Montenegro.
EYE CAMPS IN ETHIOPIA AND CAMEROON
Supported by MASHAV, Eye from Zion is a group of Israeli
doctors who volunteer their time to restore sight to people
in developing countries. One of their recent missions
took place in March, when a medical delegation led by
Prof. Dov Weinberger, Head of Ophthalmology at Israel’s
Rabin Medical Center, flew with representatives from the
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), to
Ethiopia, where they performed over 160 cataract surgeries
in a portable operation room donated by Chaim Sheba
Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. An additional mission was
sent to Cameroon in July.
WFP
The State of Israel strongly supports the World Food
Program (WFP) effective contribution and actions
towards eradicating hunger worldwide, as is reflected
in the agreement signed between the two organizations.
Israel joined the efforts of the international community
to fight the present crisis once again with an Israeli
donation in the amount of US$ 200,000 made in April.
Israel remains committed to working together in the
future through MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International
Development Cooperation and the Israeli representation
to the WFP.
38 MASHAVhttp: / /mashav.mfa.gov.il News
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE TO THE REPUBLIC OF CONGO
In the wake of the devastating explosions in Brazzaville,
the capital and largest city of the Republic of the Congo,
during which hundreds of people were injured, MASHAV
in partnership with Magen David Adom – Israel’s Medical
Emergency Service in South Africa (MDA-SA), arranged for
an emergency shipment to be sent to the affected area in
March. The emergency assistance was coordinated by
the Israeli Embassy in South Africa and included medical
equipment for the treatment of burns.
More and more of the publications and information of MASHAV are going online!
Don’t miss out!
Be sure to provide us with your@-mail address so we can notify you about important developments!
Send them to [email protected]
Online!MASHAV
http://mashav.mfa.gov.il
NAURU
Israeli nephrologist Dr. Noa Yanay arrived in Nauru in
January for a two-month medical mission in the area of
nephrology. Upon her arrival, Dr. Yanay stated that the
leading cause of kidney disease is diabetes, and thus the
importance of prevention and control of both diabetes and
high blood pressure. Dr. Yanay believes these issues should
be addressed, and emphasized that lifestyle changes can
prevent diabetes and lessen complications.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Readers:
Once again, Shalom magazine reaches you in its digital
edition. Our online magazine can be now easily passed along
and linked to more readers around the world, bringing news of
MASHAV’s international development activities.
Thousands of professionals benefit every year from MASHAV courses
both in Israel and abroad, enhancing their capacities in various fields.
They all share a personal and collective responsibility to strive to
find solutions to shared global development challenges, in order to
advance the international development agenda beyond 2015.
As we continue our development work, Shalom magazine remains
a strong link between MASHAV and you, our graduates, all over
the world.
The new digital edition of Shalom magazine can also be accessed at
MASHAV’s website (http://mashav.mfa.gov.il), where you can also
review additional development activities.
I hope you enjoy this new issue of Shalom magazine and as always I
look forward to hearing your feedback and ideas!
With warm regards,
AVNIT RIFKIN
Editor
Shalom MagazineP.O.Box 34140Jerusalem [email protected]
This letter was sent to the CINADCO
and ARO staff:
May 2012
Dear friends:I would like to thank my fellow
trainees, 27 of us from 17 countries,
for the privilege of sharing our
training course on International
R & D Course on Integrated Pest
and enjoy during our fields visits to
various sites, how the theories and
new knowledge given in lectures were
applied. It is amazing to note
that modern Israeli agriculture
sustained by the ingenuity and
character of its people, is responsible
for producing export quality
agricultural produce out of barren
lands through its world famous
greenhouse farming technologies,
including IPM which draw adherents
and practitioners worldwide.
The course afforded us excellent
opportunities to celebrate our
diversity, affirm our uniqueness
and forge and nurture friendships.
As official representatives of our
countries, these experiences made
us more effective in the greater
challenge and responsibility, in fact
in our mission ahead: making sure
our country and people ultimately
benefit from this training, to help make
a difference, be an agent of change to
improve the quality of life especially
among the poor and less privileged
among our people.
The course opened limitless
opportunities for sharing our
knowledge, our experience and
our culture, and the possibility of
pursuing further collaboration with one
another, and with our counterparts in
Israel and in various parts of the world.
During our stay we had the
opportunity to participate in
the prestigious AGRITECH 2012
International Agricultural Exhibition
and Conference. In closing therefore,
I extend my sincerest appreciation
and gratitude to the Government of
the State of Israel; to MASHAV- Israel’s
Agency of International Development
and Cooperation under the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs; to the Centre for
Management (IPM), held in Israel in May
2012. Being in Israel, most of us for the
very first time was indeed an amazing,
enriching and memorable experience
of a lifetime! Through the 24-day R & D
training we learned a lot about IPM
and agriculture as they do it presently
in Israel. The training modules were
designed and perfectly executed, in a
manner that we were able to appreciate
39
41
International Agricultural Development
and Cooperation (CINADCO) and the
Agricultural Research Organization
(ARO) and the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development for the making
this world-class training course
possible.
Thank you so much! Shalom.
EDUARDO JARCIATHE PHILIPPINES
�
March 2012
Dear Editor,Thank you so much for providing me
with the important information carried
by Shalom Magazine. I am one of
MASHAV’s trainees from 2005. During
the course I received very important
professional training in the field of my
work.
I would like to thank CINADCO
training center instructors and the
whole people of Israel People for your
cooperation with developing countries
like mine. I am very happy to receive
the electronic editions of Shalom
Magazine, and thank you once again.
Keep up you cooperation with
developing countries to bring better
future. May God bless you all.
Sincerely,
AYELE KEBEDE
ETHIOPIA
�
January 2012
Dear Editor,I feel overwhelmed by the news that
I can access our magazine via digital
processing. I can’t keep myself waiting
to congratulate you and the ever so
hard working staff for the commitment
to keep MASHAV Alumni constantly
informed and updated.
It is almost twenty-four years since
I left from Israel but the memories are
still here with me in Liberia, revealing
themselves in nearly all the good
things I’m involved with; at home, in
the workplace and the community.
To really translate the training from
MASHAV to benefit a wider audience
is my prime objective. I have in place
very unique strategies as the building
blocks for my work.
I wish you all the best.
Truly yours,
HENRY SEWARD
LIBERIA
�
January 2012
Dear Editor, On behalf of the Centre for Small
Industry Research and Training,
CENSIRT-Nigeri, I express my deep
and sincere thanks to the Government
and people of Israel and the Embassy
in Abuja for the scholarship training
granted to CENSIRT Project Officer
Elom Ukamaka Chimdinma.
The course on Mainstreaming
Poverty-Environment Linkages Into
Development Plann
ing commenced at the Weitz Centre
for Development Studies, Rehovot on
9th January 2012 and lasted for one
month with the participation of 30
people from 9 countries.
The knowledge gained from the
training will be linked and utilized
in the better implementation of
several CENSIRT ongoing projects
such as renewable energy projects,
Sustainable Development/Education,
Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs
(LIFE) and more.
It is exciting to mention that CENSIRT
was born in Israel at the International
Institute, Histadrut during MASHAV’s
Course on Economic and Financial
Planning for Rural Areas through the
Use of Computer held in January 2001.
It is more exciting to further note that
CENSIRT’s final course report attracted
UNIDO to collaborate with the
Government of Ebonyi State of Nigeria
and today, UNIDO is implementing
seven projects in the State including
the 5MW Abakaliki Power Plant that
will utilize the rice husk waste which
is causing an environmental hazard
in the State. CENSIRT itself is today
the Local Implementation Partner to
UNIDO in Ebonyi State.
The MASHAV training program has
therefore played a major role in
transforming the rural communities
of Ebonyi State and we will make the
best use of the current training of our
Project Officer to bring more projects
and benefits to the people in our part
of the world. For us MASHAV is a life
transforming program. We commend
the Government of Israel for this
initiative. Please keep it up!
EVANG. CHUKWUMA ELOMExecutive Director
CENSIRT-UNIDO Regional ICT
Centre of Excellence
NIGERIA
ebonyiunido@yahoocom
�
This letter was sent to Miri Ben-Haim,
Director of the Hebrew University's
Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture,
Food and Environment training
department:
Dear friends:
From February 6 to April 5, 2012,
I was very honored to participate in
a two-month MASHAV training course
entitled “Adapting to Climate Change:
Biotechnology in Agriculture in a world
of Global Environmental Changes”.
Israel’s advanced technology,
unique scenery, fascinating culture,
40
41
and charming professors gave us
a memorable deep impression in
these 60 days, making me fall deeply
in love with this wonderful land
intertwined with ancient culture and
modern civilization, and arousing
the enthusiasm and inspiration in my
following scientific and technological
work.
The agro-biotechnology training
course had 26 participants with
different background in researching,
teaching, farming or policy-making
from 13 different countries, including
China, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar,
India, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Serbia,
Bosnia, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Barbados
and Saint Christopher and Nevis.
The lectures were given by more
than 30 professors with scientific
research and practical experiences.
In addition to the basic principles
of biotechnologies, the professors
introduced their research interests
and results, as well as their contact
information. They attached great
importance to communicate with us
both in class and after class, and to
instruct us to prepare our final project
of the course, representing the rigorous
spirit and open research manner of
Israeli professors.
This two-month learning and training
program further broadened our
horizons, deepened our understanding
of the application of biotechnologies
in agricultural production, improved
our theoretical and practical levels,
and laid a good foundation for the
better use of biotechnologies in our
future agricultural practices. The whole
learning and living experience will live
in my heart forever. Thank you Israel,
and thank you MASHAV for giving me
this unforgettable opportunity.
Sincerely yours,
ZIQIANG LIUSouth China Agricultural University
Guangzhou 510642
CHINA
�February 2012
Dear Editor,Once again I received your magazine,
for which I would like to thank you. It
keeps me updated on what has been
going on in the area of development
programs organized by MASHAV. They
not only enhance cooperation
between different countries, but give
hope for better future. Above all, as in
my case, they open new horizons, help
personal development and facilitate
better understanding between people
from various cultures.
I participated in your “Technology
in Education” seminar held in
Aharon Ofri Center for International
Studies, Jerusalem from 19 May to
17 June, 1999. I greatly appreciate
participating in all the workshops
and lectures given to us in the center.
The cultural part of the visit made
the one-month stay in Israel even
more valuable. I met some wonderful
people, with whom I still stay in touch.
I hope many more participants will
enjoy the programs you offer in the
coming year.
Best regards to all,
IZABELA DABROWSKAPOLAND
�
This letter was sent to Rina Yaffe and
Sammy Bahat, expert who conducted
an on-the-spot program in Jamaica on
behalf of the Golda Meir Mount Carmel
International Training Centre (MCTC)
August 2012
Dear Rina and Sammy,On behalf of Young Americas
Business Trust Jamaica, I wish to
convey my heartfelt thanks for a
highly professional and informative
conference. You not only delivered
quality information but touched
the spirit of each participant as you
challenged them to become the agents
of change in Jamaica.
YABT Jamaica has now become
the lead agency on a Task Force for
change in regards to Youth at Risk
entrepreneurship policy and we will be
forging ahead to lobby the government
for this change. Everyone is so excited
and motivated to put the ideas you
have taught into practice.
YABT Jamaica is offering its services to
forge deeper linkages with MASHAV
in Youth entrepreneurship training
and development, not only in Jamaica
but the wider Caribbean region. We
are willing to become the Caribbean
hub for MASHAV training efforts. Once
again thank you and our very best
wishes for your continued success.
Sincerely,
SHIRLEY D. LNDO
CEO YABT/Jamaica
JAMAICA
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EDITOR: Avnit Rifkin
PRODUCTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN: Youval Tal Ltd.
PUBLISHED BY: Haigud – Transfer
of Technology for Development
P.O.Box 34140 Jerusalem 91341 www.haigud.org.il Printed in Israel
ISSN 0792-8262