2023 RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY: SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR RESILIENT, INCLUSIVE, AND PRODUCTIVE RURAL ECONOMIES

The 2023 Rural Development Academy takes place at a time of momentous change for rural economies worldwide. The global context dominated by the impact of multiple and interlinked crises has laid bare prevailing decent work deficits, with many rural workers living in poverty and working informally. This current context has once again showed the need to build resilience in rural populations and strengthen policies that can boost rural income and create decent jobs for women and men. Rural communities find themselves at a crossroads of different development pathways. The agricultural sector needs to feed a growing population but it also has to become regenerative and climate-smart. Agri-food value chains need to become inclusive of rural workers and smallholder farmers but also have to meet environmental standards. Rural development pathways need to be rooted in social justice, responsive to the aspirations of young women and men and innovative in design. Transforming, connecting and diversifying rural areas requires investments in people, technology and infrastructure. It requires decisive policy-making that takes into account social, economic and environmental aspects. The 2023 Rural Development Academy discussed different rural development pathways, proposed solutions for inclusive rural livelihoods and engaged its participants in the design of strategies to broaden and expand decent rural employment opportunities. OBJECTIVES The Rural Development Academy presented and discussed the latest thinking on social justice and decent work in the rural economy. Participants in the Academy increased their understanding of the ILO’s rights-based approach to rural development and internalized the power of social dialogue as a driver and governance instrument for sustainable rural development. They familiarized themselves with the principles of a just transition towards environmentally sustainable rural economies and equip themselves to apply them in their own contexts . The Academy allowed rural development policy makers and practitioners to gain knowledge and share views about policies and strategies to enhance skills, support sustainable enterprise development and promote rights at work for rural workers and producers. The Academy was an occasion to learn and to share experiences through highly interactive sessions that will benefit from the expertise and viewpoints of participants from different contexts and continents. CONTENT The Academy consisted of two interconnected phases. The programme started with a two-week on-line phase, followed by a one-week face-to-face programme at the International Training Centre of the ILO in Turin, Italy. In order to receive the Academy certification, the participants had to complete both phases of the programme. During the two weeks on-line phase of the Academy, participants participated in: • Self-guided learning modules on essential aspects of decent work in the rural economy • Webinars with renowned experts bringing the latest knowledge on key rural development topics During the five days face-to-face phase of the Academy in Turin, participants participated in: • Master Classes on key topics at the heart of the ILO Decent Work Agenda • Elective session that allow smaller groups of participants to actively engage in topics of their interest Moreover participants were invited to select one of the three study visits that were organized in and around Turin. The themes of the study visits included rural cooperatives, green business, circular economy, short rural value chains and rural tourism. Participants also participated in South-South Working Groups on topics of interest and in the knowledge fair that allowed them to exhibit and learn about new and innovative tools, knowledge products and approaches to promote decent work in the rural economy. NUMBER OF HOURS: 42