War deteriorated not only Syrian economic conditions, but also destroyed all learning possibilities, such as technical schools or Universities, making difficult for Syrian agriculture and veterinary technicians to have access to updated information and knowledge. Attending vocational trainings represent a real challenge due to scarce opportunities within the country and the impossibility for Syrians to attend training courses abroad. At the same time also the local administrations are in need of technical assistance to reactivate their agriculture and veterinary services and to provide proper extension to their farmers and breeders. So, war outbreak led to a considerable knowledge gap that CIHEAM Bari addresses delivering, in its programme, Remote Technical Assistance (RTA), a valid alternative to the traditional face-to-face trainings aimed at communities in areas where fragility and vulnerability conditions make it difficult or not recommended to hold face to face actions, as in the case of Syria.

Aim of CIHEAM Bari’s capacity-building activities is to facilitate knowledge transfer among communities giving them right tools for economic stabilization and to become proactive, dynamic and resilient to conflicts effects and natural shocks, reducing at the same time chronic vulnerability and enabling resilience.

Remote Technical Assistance is based on a participatory analysis of the needs of local communities, it provides appropriate integrated solutions and capacity building sessions in the field of agriculture and livestock breeding, using satellite internet tools that reduce distance between the Syrian beneficiaries and the international experts who deliver technical assistance. Farmers’ problems on the ground are tackled with RTA modules and seminars, tailored for local technicians working in agriculture and veterinary but also for local famers and breeders. These modules and the related learning materials are available in a e-learning platform where learners can have access anytime.

RTA follows a bottom-up-bottom approach, since local technicians receive training from International experts and then, the competences gained are disseminated by technicians to local farmers and breeders trough field seminars. In this way, knowledge is transferred from international experts to the local community so that local capacity can be strengthened in response to local challenges.