Sharing knowledge and experiences among partners on any project, and so on SMARTLABOR “Strengthening Alliance for Policy Development and Testing in the domain of Innovation, Digitalization, and the Labor Market in the Western Balkans” is of paramount importance for several reasons. Firstly, it fosters a culture of collaboration and collective problem-solving. When partners share their insights and expertise, it leads to a more informed decision-making process, as diverse perspectives are considered. Additionally, sharing knowledge helps to clarify issues and bridge gaps in understanding, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. Secondly, knowledge sharing promotes continuous learning and professional growth. As partners exchange experiences and lessons learned, they gain new skills and insights that can be applied to current and future projects.
The three online trainings organized by partners on the SMARTLABOR PROJECT: CREDI, IMPETUS and Centre/Re:People provided an overview of the current situation in the agri-food sector in three Western Balkan countries, the level of use of digital tools by the farmers and digital processes they avail themselves of, foresight, and digital skills required for modern food production.
While long focusing on policy changes towards the development of a sustainable and just society in the digital age, the series of online trainings carried out by its partners on the SMARTLABOR project, provided valuable information to the Centre for Public Policy Research/Re:People about small food producers in the region, their mastery of digital tools in daily activities and the ways to enhance them so as to expedite the processes to their own benefit and that of their societies. The foresight of skills needed is crucial for informed planning of future trainings in local communities throughout the region of Western Balkans. During the presentations and ensuing discussions, we learned that we share many problems – inter alia, that not a single of our countries is an “exclusive owner” of challenges related to a low level of mastery of digital skills among the farmers and the resistance to their usage. While being a reason for concern, it is a relief to know that we will invest joint forces in changing this situation across the region, with the strong support of the members of the Smart Labor Network.
Read more on how the trainings benefitted our partners:
Centre for Development Evaluation and Social Science Research – CREDI, Bosnia and Herzegovina
IMPETUS, North Macedonia
