Services Provided
In the previous period and with the limited human and financial resources available, NENARACA has succeeded in establishing itself as an effective medium for technical co-operation among developing countries (TCDC) in the field of agricultural credit in the Region. NENARACA has proved its worthiness as an effective conduit and forum for furthering the causes of agricultural advancement and development of an effective agricultural credit systems in the region, through the provision of services such as oriented research, staff exchange, publications, special technical consultation and strengthening mutual cooperation. Examples of some of services which were provided through NENARACA to its member institutions are shown in the following: -
Training is the area which NENARACA has always given high priority. Emphasis is given to practical and need oriented training and in areas where training is not provided at local levels. Training programmes are for higher and medium staff levels. Regional as well as national training courses are organized annually. Regional training courses are directed to issues of mutual interest and importance to member institutions. National training courses are conducted on request in accordance with the specific need of the requesting country. NENARACA also assists in the preparation of training materials in agricultural credit, and designing and developing curricula for preservice and inservice training.
NENARACA has so far conducted many regional and national training courses benefiting hundreds of the staff of member institutions, targeted mainly to the benefit of middle ranking officials. Some of the topics discussed are: -
· Administration and evaluation of agricultural loans
· Small farmers' credit policy and administration.
· Evaluation of agricultural credit needs
· Innovative techniques in rural finance
· Mobilization of rural savings
· Management information systems in a development financial institution.
· Evaluation of small-scale projects financed by credit with the use of PC.
· Agricultural and credit policy analysis.
· Credit for women, etc .
NENARACA gives great importance to exchange of experience and cross fertilization of ideas among member institutions. Not-withstanding general assembly meetings, annual technical meetings arranged for discussion of central problems of mutual interest. Many technical workshops and conferences were held and attended by around hundreds of staff members of credit institutions in the region. The delegates to the meetings are mostly director generals and their subordinates. Some of the topics discussed are:
· Economic reform of agricultural credit institutions
· Repayment of loans
· Monitoring and evaluation of credit programmes
· Credit for marketing
· Agricultural credit in the context of Islamic principles
· Transaction costs
· Credit to small-scale farmers
· Agricultural risk management
· Loan collateral
· Microfinance
· Credit guarantee funds
· Mobilization of rural savings
· Universal rural banking
· Restructuring AgDBs
Exchange of Experiences
A well established programme of exchange of staff is in force where staff from one member institution are sent to the other to assist in introducing an activity or to learn from the experience of the host country in some advanced credit activities and operation. Many staff members have benefited from this programme from both levels high ranking and middle class staff.
Consultancy and Advisory Services
NENARACA provides consultancy and advisory services to member institutions to improve their performance or to study specific problems and suggest the appropriate solutions. The results of these consultancies are presented for discussions by local seminars and workshops to achieve the following:
· Reform of AgDBs
· Simplify work procedure
· Improve information management system
· Up-grade work performance
· Improve repayment efficiency
· overcome the negative effects of structural adjustment programmes
Exchange of Information
NENARACA systematically collates, synthesizes and distributes relevant information on agricultural credit. At the beginning of NENARACA's era it used to issue comprehensive statistical data and information on its members. In 1995, it has issued a reference composed 3 volumes on "Agricultural Credit Delivery and Administration Systems in the Near East-North Africa Region". It also produces biannually newsletter dealing with all news, problems and issues concerning member institutions. Scientific articles in topics of concern are included in this newsletter. It is distributed to more than one thousand readers within and outside the region.
Research and Technology
NENARACA conducts problem oriented research of mutual interest to member institutions. It helps in building up a strong cadre of local expertise in this field. It assists countries in keeping abreast of change through research in future needs and possibilities for improvement. Emphasis is given to modernization and adoption of suitable technology. Advanced agricultural credit and banking methods, computerization when needed, and better operations and organization methods are examples of issues examined critically. These studies are used as background materials in specialized seminars and/or training courses.
NENARACA is contributing immensely to enriching the agricultural credit library with literature on rural finance by encouragement books compiling, translation of important references and preparation of training materials on agricultural credit. NENARACA's publications have exceeded 50 books and references in both languages Arabic and English. The most important publications translated by NENARACA are "Agricultural Finance" written by a group of American professors, and "Agricultural Credit through Cooperatives and Other Institutions". "Agricultural Credit in Developing Countries" FAO publications and "Agricultural Financial Markets in the Developing Countries", and "Financial Information for Management of a Development Finance Institution" a World Bank publications. Also NENARACA has issued "Agricultural Credit in the Perspective of Development". Lately, NENARACA has issued "Agricultural Finance" reference for teaching purposes in Arab universities. In addition, it has issued three volumes of the book "Agricultural Credit Delivery and Administration Systems in the Region". Both references were financed totally or partially by FAO. It is worth mentioning that all NENARACA‘s publications and technical reports are issued in both languages Arabic and English.
Other publications issued:
1. "Some Features of Rural Finance in the Near East and North Africa Region"
2. Report of the Workshop on "Towards Universal Rural Banking" and "Credit Guarantee Funds".
3. Report of the 13th Round of NENARACA's Meetings".
4. "Compendium of Technical Meetings Held by NENARACA in 25 years (1977-2002)"
5. "Compendium of NENARACA's Administrative And Financial Achievements During 25 Years"
6. "25 Years of Progress and Achievements - A Summary Note on objectives and achievements of NENARACA".
7. "Report of the Workshop on "Restructuring of Agricultural Development Banks (AgDBs) - Perspectives and Prospects".
8. "Report of the 14th Round of NENARACA's Meetings"
9. NENARACA Newsletter No. 31 - 2003
10. Compendium of NENARACA's Administrative and Financial Achievements During 25 Years: The minutes and resolutions of NENARACA's Executive Board meetings during the period 1977 up to end of the year 2002.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |