The first webinars of the "Festival of tools" series, oganised in the framework of the celebration of 30 years of LEDAs, were carried on the 28th of March (in English), and the 8th of April (in Spanish). 

ILS LEDA’s team (Francesca Acerra, Giulia Rucireta, Giancarlo Canzanelli, and Vincenzo Milio) introduced the topic: "RESCO, the ILS LEDA tool for assessing the territorial potential, and the case of the tomato value chain in Kebili (Tunisia)"

40 people attended the webinars, coming from different countries of Latin America, Europe, Maghreb, and East Asia.

After having mentioned the main theoretical framework that inspired the RESCO conceptual plant, the speakers illustrated the essence, the approach as applied to a value chain, and its objective, that is assessing, in a participatory manner, the capacity of a resource of a given territory and its corresponding value chain, with the aim to make it more competitive, sustainable, resilient and inclusive.

Vincenzo Milio, ILS LEDA Director, showed, therefore:

• The RESCO "road map", focused on the identification and training of "focus groups", representatives of civil society, producers, local authorities, and service providers;
• The assessment components, including 6 factors (competitive advantage, market positioning, value chain performance, gender balance, sustainability and resilience, obstacles), 29 variables, and 223 indicators; and
• How this ends with the elaboration of development strategies.

Giancarlo Canzanelli, ILS LEDA President, introduced then how the tool worked out in the case of the tomato value chain in Kebili, a Tunisian governorate. In this case the main strategic guidelines regarded:

• Strengthening participatory Governance, mainly through co-operative relationships among the local actors, lobbying with national government, enabling innovative technologies, improving the environment protection, and establishing a territorial marketing strategy;
• Improving the supply of Services, mainly through establishing a comprehensive service system, including non-financial, financial (a guarantee fund), and social services;
• Building capacities, mainly through awareness campaigns regarding the value and opportunities of the tomato value chain, the environment protection, and strengthening entrepreneurial and professional skills.

After the presentation several participants spoke either for requesting clarifications, or adding comments, or complimenting the interesting and useful exhibit.

The next webinar for the Festival of Tools on “The Bio-districts” will be held on the 4th of May, stay tuned for more details.

To know more about other events and the project, click here.

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