ENGINE Village Chicken Production Training Facilitator’s Guide

The guide is part of the Empowering New Generation to Improve Nutrition and Economic Opportunities (ENGINE) program, which aims to enhance household economic opportunities and nutrition through improved village chicken production. The guide is structured to provide step-by-step guidance for training facilitators, with a focus on "learning by doing" through class exercises and practical applications in the field. The training facilitation approach is centered on trainees, providing hands-on work and engaging them in in-house group exercises and on-field demonstrations. The guide is sequenced similarly to the Village Chicken Production Handbook, covering basic background information, management, housing, feed and feeding, and poultry healthcare. The overall training purpose is to equip trained households with improved village chicken production techniques, enabling them to better utilize supported chickens to combat hunger and improve household nutrition. By the end of the training, participants are expected to understand, demonstrate, and change their thinking on chicken management, housing, feeding, and healthcare, which are essential for improved chicken production. The guide outlines the training materials required, including illustrations, live animals, locally relevant poultry drugs, vaccines, and equipment, as well as field visits to nearby Farmer Training Centers (FTCs) or farmers' houses to see improved management, housing, and feeding practices. The training methods and techniques include preparing for the training, selecting a suitable venue, and preparing each session in advance. The guide provides detailed instructions for each session, including Session 1: Getting to know each other, which focuses on introducing participants, setting workshop norms, and establishing a comfortable working environment. Session 2: Introduction on Village Chicken Production covers the economic and nutrition importance of village chicken, challenges encountered by village chicken producers, and the fundamental link between chicken rearing and rural women's roles. Session 3: Flock Management focuses on the basics of improved chicken management required for better production and productivity of chicken. The session covers topics such as flock management, housing, and feed and feeding, with the aim of enabling trainees to know the basics of improved chicken management. Throughout the guide, the emphasis is on providing practical and interactive training methods, including brainstorming, question and answering, flip chart presentations, and illustrations. The guide encourages trainers to develop their own exercises, case studies, and training tools, and to adapt approaches to the specific needs of the communities being trained. The ENGINE Village Chicken Production Training Facilitator's Guide is a valuable resource for training facilitators working with rural chicken keepers, providing a comprehensive framework for delivering effective and practical training on village chicken production.