The seventh IPROMO Course - the training programme on sustainable mountain development - jointly organized by the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at FAO and the University of Turin, Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Protection of Agroforestry Resources, with the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be held in Ormea, Italy on 8-18 July 2014. 

The theme this year is “Promoting Sustainable Farming in Mountain Regions”.  

The aim of this year’s course is to share with the selected participants key facts about mountain farming also as a contribution to the International Year of Family Farming, as mountain farming is largely family farming. The course will focus on the main features of mountain sustainable farming, it will introduce the concept of the landscape approach, soil conservation and erosion control. It will also look at the linkages with climate change and at the role of watershed management. A day will be devoted to the issue of improving mountain livelihoods, looking specifically at the role of mountain products, marketing and small enterprise development.     

The course will run from 8 to 18 July 2014 with 10 days of full immersion learning. It will include lectures, practical work and a field trip to Valle d’Aosta. The course will be held in Ormea, (Piedmont, Northern Italy) and will be in English. The provisional programme is available here and the instructors will include a mix of university professors, FAO officers and colleagues from regional or international organizations dealing with sustainable mountain development.   

About 30 professionals will be admitted to the course and preference will be given to participants coming from countries and organizations which are members of the Mountain Partnership. This course is geared towards technical officers, hence applicants from the academic world will not be given priority. Participants from developing countries are encouraged to apply.  

The total cost of the course (inclusive of full board, accommodation, taxes, teaching equipment, internal transfers but excluding travel costs) is 3,000 Euros. A limited number of scholarships – full (on site and travel costs) and partial (on-site only) – are available for selected participants from developing countries.  

Excellent knowledge of English, a university degree preferably in a technical area such as Agriculture, Forestry, Biology, Geology or Geography, and relevant work experience are prerequisites.   

Those who are interested in participating can register online at http://www.mountainpartnership.org/ipromoform/subscription/en/#c61810 and upload their curriculum vitae as a Word or PDF file.  Applications should be sent by 4 April 2014 and applicants can expect a reply by mid-May 2014.  

Kindly share this call for applications with interestedcolleagues.   

For further queries: rosalaura.romeo@fao.org and d.godone@gmail.com