Rural Development and Food Security
Master of Management of Development
Career opportunities
The master is intended for professionals working within Government and Non-Government rural development organisations as a project/programme coordinator/manager or as a specialist/consultant.
In the position of project/programme coordinator/manager, professionals coordinate the work of their department. They implement national or organisational policies into departments' programmes of activities. They facilitate necessary processes of change so that new policies are adequately mainstreamed in the mandate and activities of the organisation. They contribute to and supervise in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation programmes. They are responsible for and collaborate in capacity building of their staff. They establish and maintain networks with related organisations and institutions.
In the position of specialist/consultant, the specialists work in a specific professional field. They advise the management and staff members who work in other disciplines on issues related to their specialisation. They contribute to the effective incorporation of these issues in the organisation. They work in interdisciplinary teams. They collaborate in development of monitoring and evaluation tools and in programme and project planning. They do research in their specific field of work. They provide training for staff in their own organisation and related organisations. They make sure that issues related to their specialisation are on the agenda of their organisation and on the agenda of related organisations.
Within these positions, professionals perform some or all of the following roles: advisor, planner, facilitator, lobbyist, manager, policy maker, and researcher.
As globalisation proceeds, organisations involved in food-security programmes have to respond to its effects; increasing numbers of donor agencies now require food security to be integrated within their programmes and projects. There is therefore a considerable demand for professionals who can define and implement this response. Many NGOs and public service organisations are currently reassessing their activities, and see one-year staff training programmes as a worthwhile investment.
"Small scale farmers producing for the local market are also affected by globalisation."
Irene Asare from Ghana
Agriculture coordinator of the Ghana Educational Service
"I am now approaching the end of this master course on food security. A three weeks module on project planning and the thesis project is all what is left to do. The module on "Agricultural development and food security" provided me with a more comprehensive understanding about food security. Not only food production should be considered, but also food accessibility and utilisation. After coming back to Ghana this will help me to consider much more topics than before with regard to the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP) I'm involved in. In the GSFP small farmers are asked to produce foodstuff for the schools. This provides the children with nutritious food and at the same time the farmers a ready market, by which they can increase their income.From the modules on 'Management, planning and development', I have acquired the knowledge and skills that help me to deal with challenges within an organisation involved in Food Security programs."
"Small-scale farmers are essential for local food security."