IIRR-AFRICA, YEAR 2001 COURSE BRIEFS

Dear Colleagues,

We are glad to announce our course schedule for the year 2001. Every year, the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) - Africa Regional Office offers training courses that focus on field experiences and participatory approaches. These courses are designed for managers and leaders of development organisations. Participants have been drawn mainly from development organisations such as indigenous and international NGOs, community-based organisations and government agencies.

These courses mainly target development practitioners from Eastern Africa but have attracted participants from as far as Sierra Leone, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and Cameroon. Since 1995, close to 2000 people have attended the courses.

Short five-day customised courses on subjects such as PRA, Strategic Planning, Training of Trainers and other participatory methods can be offered on request.

YEAR 2001 COURSE SCHEDULE

DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT: CONCEPTS. PRINCIPLES AND TOOLS
5th – 16th March 2001 (Nairobi – Kenya)

The objective of this course is to enhance the capabilities of participants in managing participatory, people-centred sustainable development programmes and projects. The course comprises topics such as development trends, gender, capacity building, using indigenous knowledge, management roles and functions, leadership, project planning, participatory monitoring and evaluation, fundraising and proposal writing.

PARTICIPATORY MONITORING AND EVALUATION
11th-22nd June 2001 (in Uganda ) - 26th November – 7th December 2001 (Kenya)

The course covers types and elements of M&E, setting up of M&E systems, development of indicators and data collection. Participants will share ideas, experiences and acquire skills in the use of various tools for monitoring and evaluation.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT COURSE IN PROJECT DESIGN AND PROPOSAL WRITING
20th-31st August 2001 (Kisumu – Kenya)

Through participatory methods, participants will learn some of the tools and techniques that facilitate needs assessment, design of sustainable, people-centred projects and the formulation of successful proposals. Topics include principles of participatory planning, community needs assessment, establishment of project baselines, village entry techniques, planning tools and writing of project proposals

ORGANISATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND/OR STRATEGIC PLANNING
9th –20th July 2001 (Nairobi – Kenya)

This course consists of two independent but related one week modules. Through the module on Organizational Development (8-13 July) participants will appreciate OD as a distinct approach to capacity building. Different ways/tools on how to assess organisational effectiveness will be discussed and applied. Key concepts of the OD process model will be discussed and participants will acquire basic insights that will allow them to enhance organisational performance.
The module on strategic planning (16-20 July) will address issues such as the rationale and components of a strategic plan, the strategic planning process and key concepts and principles related to strategic management. At the end of the course participants will have acquired basic understanding and skills required to facilitate the strategic planning process in their own organisation.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON IIRR COURSES

Duration, field trips and agency visits

Each course takes two weeks and includes one agency and one field trip. During the agency visits, participants learn how leading development agencies are managed. Specific emphasis is placed on the course theme. During the day-long field visits, participants interact with other development practitioners at work in communities.

Venues

The Skill Development Course in Project Design and Proposal Writing course will be held at the Action Aid -Kiboswa training centre in Kisumu. Courses on Strategic Planning and Organisational Development, the Development Management and Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (25th November – 7th December 200) course, will take place in Nairobi at the Mary Ward Centre. The venue for the Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation course 10th-22nd June 2001 to be held in Uganda will be identified later.

Cost

The courses cost $1,000 for Kenyans and $1,200 for other nationalities. As regards the Organiasational Development and Strategic Planning course, fee are $ 500 and $ 600 respectively per module. It covers tuition, full-board accommodation. Participants are expected to pay for their own travel to Nairobi, Kampala or Kisumu. Medical and insurance covers as well as out of pocket allowances. Partial fellowships are offered in special cases but organizations seeking such support must apply for it indicating their contributions.