Family planning management training

A contractor will implement the project"s planning/assessment, training and follow-up TA, and materials development activities. Planning/assessment will involve cataloguing and assessing the training institutions in countries to receive project training (although not all of the latter will necessarily be assessed), selecting potential collaborating institutions, and identifying (if need be, via an in-depth study) the training needs of program leaders and managers. The contractor may visit centers in 35-40 countries over the 5-year project, but will focus on 10-12 major regional training institutions during the first 2 years. A report summarizing the relevance of these programs to LDC FP managers will be prepared and made available to all AID Missions, PVO"s, and organizations assisting FP activities. Training will absorb 79.4% of project resources. Current program leaders will be trained on broad issues (i.e., the policy environment, the role of FP in development, strategic management, and donor coordination) in 1-3 week, usually regional, seminars. Projected future program leaders will receive long-term (30) and short-term (40) U.S. training, U.S. or third-country internships (8), and short-term regional seminars. Mid- and upper level managers (operational and technical managers) and management teams will receive basic skills training in workshops on regional or country-specific management problems or possibly through long-term technical training. Intra- and extra-regional study tours of 1-2 months will be offered to all trainees. Training in problem diagnosis and prescription will be offered in a few countries. In all, some 1,800 leaders and managers will be trained. A special effort will be made to include women in this training. Some 30 programs will receive 1-3 day follow-up visits within 3 months of the completion of training or 1-2 months of TA to help implement projects developed as a result of training. At least four training packages on specific management issues, each containing a curriculum, a trainer"s guide, and trainees" materials, will be developed. About 20 teaching cases and 10 or more situational and quantitative exercises will be produced.