PROJECTS

This needs analysis was developed as part of the preparatory phase of the AGRICARE initiative, aimed at strengthening agricultural vocational education and training (VET) systems to better support resilience, sustainability, and adaptation to emerging challenges in the Western Balkans, bringing together partners from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Italy, Greece, and Ireland. The analysis provides a comprehensive evidence base for strengthening vocational education and training (VET) systems and supporting small-scale agricultural producers in adapting to increasing environmental, economic, and systemic pressures.

By combining policy analysis, real-world disruption evidence, and primary stakeholder research, the study identifies critical gaps in agricultural training systems and highlights the urgent need for integrated, practice-oriented learning approaches.

The needs analysis is based on three complementary evidence layers:

1. Policy and reform analysis

Review of key international and national sources, including:

• ETF Torino Process assessments (2022–2024)
• OECD Western Balkans Competitiveness Outlook (2024/25)
• European Commission Progress Reports (2025)
• FAOSTAT, EEA, ILO and national strategies

This layer confirms structural constraints in VET modernisation, weak skills anticipation, and limited system capacity in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

2. Contextual shock evidence (2024–2025)

Recent real-world events demonstrate that agricultural resilience is no longer theoretical but operationally urgent:

• Floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina (October 2024, March 2025)
• Large-scale power outages affecting agricultural infrastructure (June 2024)
• Wildfires in Montenegro (March 2025)
• Climate-related disruptions across EU partner countries

These events exposed the absence of preparedness, risk mitigation, and continuity planning at farm and system level.

3. Primary stakeholder research

A structured survey of 44 stakeholders (mainly VET educators) confirms:

• 73% report that modern topics (digital farming, sustainability, climate resilience) are only partially or not covered
• 75% say VET programmes do not adequately prepare learners for labour market needs
• 80% report limited use of digital tools in agriculture
• 80% highlight insufficient teacher training in new agricultural technologies

At the same time:

• 98% consider climate and sustainability topics essential
• 82% support digital learning platforms
• 89% support structured cooperation with industry

The analysis identifies a critical integration gap: Training exists in fragmented forms, but there is no unified VET framework that combines digital tools, sustainable and regenerative practices, and crisis preparedness and risk mitigation into a coherent, applicable skill set for agricultural producers.

4. Country-level Challenges

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Fragmented governance limits VET reform implementation
• Weak work-based learning (WBL)
• Low productivity and limited investment capacity
• Strong exposure to floods and climate risks

Montenegro

• Gap between policy ambition and implementation
• Limited technical capacity at local level
• Weak skills for accessing funding (e.g. IPARD)
• Low practical skills in sustainable and digital agriculture

EU partner countries provide important reference points:

• Ireland: strong VET frameworks, but lacking crisis-focused agricultural training
• Italy: increasing climate losses and uneven digital adoption
• Greece: fragmented farm structure and low digital uptake

This confirms the need for transnational cooperation, where EU expertise supports Western Balkan capacity building.

Across all partner countries, agriculture is increasingly exposed to:

• climate shocks
• resource pressure
• market volatility

Yet current VET systems do not sufficiently prepare learners for these realities.

5. Conclusion

The AGRICARE needs analysis demonstrates that strengthening agricultural resilience requires more than isolated training interventions. It requires:

• integrated curricula
• trained educators
• stronger links between VET and the agricultural sector
• practical, flexible, and accessible learning models

The findings provide a strong foundation for developing a VET approach that supports sustainable, digital, and crisis-resilient agriculture in the Western Balkans, while benefiting from knowledge transfer and tested practices from EU partners.

👉Full Needs Analysis is available here: AGRICARE Needs Analysis