Burma development training project

Evaluation covered the period 1979-8/87 and was based on a sample survey of returned participants and interviews with senior Burmese officials. The majority of participants have been males from the Ministries of Agriculture and Forests, Energy, and Health, although there is increasing diversity on both scores. The training has been primarily short-term and technical in nature and provided mostly in the United States, with some in Asian countries. Major evaluation findings were as follows. (1) Interest in further A.I.D.-sponsored training, preferably in the United States, is strong. Numerous Burmese officials would like to participate informally in A.I.D."s annual planning of the training. (2) Fewer than a third of the participants surveyed received a pre-departure briefing from the A.I.D. office in Burma, and the majority said they were only moderately prepared for the program. (3) The majority received orientation upon their arrival in the United States. Few experienced serious social or cultural adjustment problems, and most were very satisfied with the help provided in program, personal, and administrative matters. On the negative side, English-language difficulties are growing, as are problems with travel arrangements and financial concerns. (4) Satisfaction with the training content and the training facilities is high. There is less satisfaction with the short duration of some programs and - especially in the energy and health fields - with the applicability of the training to Burmese conditions. (5) The need for more practical training experiences, including field trips and on-the-job experiences, was the most frequently noted area for program improvement, followed by need for technical publications and refresher courses. (6) All those surveyed returned to their sponsoring Ministry, and most to the their previous jobs. There is little evidence of increased responsibility. (7) A majority of participants use their training on the job, though a small number claim constraints - most often, the lack of equipment or resources - on doing this. There seems to be a trend of declining use over time. (8) Participants" colleagues and supervisors evince a strong interest in the ideas and skills brought back from training. Participants have shared their training to a moderate degree, and over half receive professional publications. While contact with the local A.I.D. office is infrequent, almost all would recommend their training to others. Included are recommendations for the above-noted areas and for A.I.D. follow-up activities; a list of action decisions; and a note on actions taken by the Mission after the evaluation.