Development training

The project consists of: (1) a country component of the Caribbean and Latin American Scholarship Program II (CLASP II -- 5980661), to support leadership development among disadvantaged populations; and (2) a traditional development training component to develop the human resources needed for stabilization and economic recovery. The purpose of the CLASP II Program is to equip a broad base of leaders and potential leaders with technical skills, training, and academic education and an appreciation for a free enterprise economy in a democratic society. The primary target groups will be adults already in positions of leadership in the education sector, municipal government, and cooperatives. At least 70% of participants must be socially or economically disadvantaged and at least 40% must be female. Under this program, 260 Nicaraguans (mayors, regional council members, cooperative promoters and managers, primary school directors, and normal school teachers) will attend short-term technical programs. In addition, 42 teachers, teacher- trainers, and school directors will receive long-term (9-12 months) technical training, and 35 university professors will receive 1 or 2 years of M.S. level training in education, economics, business, law, and engineering. The development training component will be targeted to a few specific organizations and to individuals of all socioeconomic levels with leadership ability. The component will offer 37 graduate and undergraduate scholarships at U.S. 4-year, public universities in a variety of fields (economics, management, engineering, law, and others), and will sponsor 70 undergraduate and graduate scholarships at regional institutions -- e.g., Pan American Agriculture School in Zamorano, Honduras, EARTH School in Costa Rica, and the Central American Institute for Business Administration (INCAE). In addition, this component will support short-term technical and management training addressing the specific needs of key organizations, including, inter alia: the Ministries of Finance, Education, and Agriculture; the Central Bank, and the Municipality of Managua. An estimated 2,035 individuals will be trained, mostly in-country. The project will also sponsor attendance at U.S. and third country conferences for another 180 persons. All U.S. training programs will include an Experience America component and follow-on activities designed to help the participants apply their training in Nicaragua.