“To capacitate, you must be capacitated first”. This is one of the mantras of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in capacitating its private extension associates to become effective and efficient partners in providing extension services. This leads the ATI-Regional Training Center 1 to conduct the Training on Gender Sensitive Extension Delivery System (EDS) for Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs), Schools for Practical Agriculture (SPAs), and Private Extension Service Providers (PESPs).

The training conducted on April 18-22, 2022 at ATI-RTC 1, Tebag East, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan was participated by 20 representatives from the said group of private sectors.

One of the objectives of the five-day training was to expand the knowledge of the private partners on the extension delivery system that strongly supports gender equality. Hence, the participants were oriented about Gender and Development (GAD) and the Philippine Agriculture Extension System.

Among the GAD topics that were explained to them include the difference between Gender Equality and Gender Equity; Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE); and Magna Carta for Women. Meanwhile, the Training Program was discussed as an approach both in agriculture extension and GAD. It was also demonstrated to the participants various skills, such as leadership, communication, presentation, and facilitation that can enhance their individual competencies. Special topic on Climate Change was also incorporated in the training course.

The training was also blended with e-learning course to complement the knowledge that they can acquire from it. Another highlight of the training includes the microteaching activities of the participants on GAD-related topics which intend to demonstrate their communication and presentation skills acquired from the training. Each of the participants have also produced visual aid presentations and completed the e-learning course on EDS as part of their outputs.

Private sector like LSAs, SPAs, and PESPs are other pillars of extension that cater services to clienteles at the grass root levels. Specifically, they serve as demonstration and learning fields. Likewise, the Farmer Cooperators of these sites act as trainer or subject matter specialist. Hence, the need to capacitate them.