reindeer husbandry in Finnmark and Kola

formalistic objection. There are good reasons why the Barents Secretariat could engage and lend its name to this kind of dialogue, and the participation of the full board when decisions about funding take place is a good enough insurance that there are no conflicts of interest involved. Nevertheless, the evaluators would suggest the requirement of filling out the appropriate application form for all potential applicants, even in the cases where the Barents Secretariat is one of the partners in the project. The long-term perspective of the partners of both sides makes a true evaluation of concrete results at this stage premature. The results, which will be of both a direct and an indirect nature, are likely to be visible in a longer time perspective. So far it appears that the partners have found a constructive modus of collaboration which facilitates the work towards the rather ambitious goals of the project.

3.14 Competence transfer between the sector of reindeer husbandry in Finnmark and Kola.

Institutions involved and funding. Neiden Rein a.s. and Vardø upper secondary school (formal project holder). The project was financed by the MFA (200,000 NOK) and the Barents Secretariat (350,000 NOK), and Neiden Rein as (15,250 NOK) (source: Final Report to the Barents Secretariat). Background. The project lasted from 2003 to 2005. Vardø Upper Secondary School (VUSS) was responsible for the organisation, co-ordination, and economy (budgetary accountancy) of the project. VUSS offers vocational training in food professions as one of its specialities, with a focus on sea food and locally produced food. The theoretical part of the project was carried out at Triumfs Turistsenter in Kautokeino, whereas the practical training took place in the facilities of the Smuk Nesseby as in Varangerbotn and Mikkel Triumf Slakt in Kautokeino and Neiden Rein as factory in Vadsø. In the beginning Neiden Rein was owned by reindeer Saamis in Tana and Varanger with two Tromsø-based forms holding 11 percent of the shares together (Johan Petter Barlindhaug as and H. Mydland as). The ownership of the company was changed in 2004. According to the project

description, the firm was dependent upon supplies of reindeer meat from Russia. The company also planned to process meat in Norway for export to Russia because the processing and marketing capacities in Nenets and Jamal allegedly were poorly developed. Objectives. The project aimed at transferring competence from a Norwegian enterprise to Russian Saamis involved in reindeer husbandry. This was seen as a step towards closer contacts between people involved in reindeer husbandry in Norway and Russia, and subsequently commercial co-operation as a result of the project. The Russian reindeer companies Girvas and Rangifer were mentioned as potential partners of Neiden Rein. After the project a substantial number of Russian Saamis would have acquired the competence needed to meet EU standards of quality and hygiene. Another related objective was to develop the market for reindeer meat in Russia.

The intervention. Training of Russian Saamis and Nenets in reindeer husbandry, slaughtering and carving of meat, including quality control and hygiene. The training was planned to take place over two seasons.

Results

a) Output: Seven young people fulfilled the basic course in slaughtering and meat processing (seven weeks). Four young people completed the follow-up courses in carving of meat and quality standards (15 weeks). b) Outcome and impact: The young people who were trained have got jobs in the meat industry and some go to school for further training. Some have moved out of the indigenous areas. The planned establishment of a Norwegian – Russian reindeer cooperation in the field of reindeer meat industry did not come into existence.

While being in Norway for training, the course participants were invited to work after hours “with the same meat carving that we were doing during training lessons”, as one put it. The after-hour work was paid, but due to a transfer of undertaking of Neiden Rein to another company (Boalvvir BA / Lulas AS), that latter declared Neiden Rein bankrupt, some of the salary payments are still outstanding. Two course participants have altogether 25,000