Final report and report on the third year of the development program grant

Final contractor report covers the period 2/75-3/78. The availability of additional ORT Technical Assistance Department staff has resulted in significant progress toward achieving project objectives. ORT staff have conducted seven identification missions, and visited a total of 30 LDC"s and medium-graduate countries. Three visits led to identification of over 100 training programs which address the needs of LDC"s to accelerate indigenization and respond to the needs of the urban and rural poor. Recipient governments have responded favorably to this enhanced ORT service capability and have looked to ORT for guidance in obtaining project funding. However, the project funding procedures of some donors have hampered effective response to these LDC manpower needs. In both the identification and design of the training programs, there has been a concerted effort to apply the basic ORT methodology of training trainers in priority sectors. The project has emphasized meeting the basic needs of the disadvantaged - women and the poor. In addition, the ORT has established contacts with the UN agencies, the World Bank, the private sector, and with the donor agencies of Canada, Switzerland, and West Germany. Information sharing contacts have been established and strengthened with 23 PVO"s, and discussions have been held with over 40 voluntary and non-governmental organizations to explore the possibility of joint implementation of projects with training components. During 10-11/77, 20 voluntary and government organizations were surveyed and three areas of need in technical and training assistance identified: (1) assisting LDC development organizations in training needs assessment, program management and design, and preparation of project documentation; (2) upgrading field level capabilities and training skills of PVO staffs in LDC"s; and (3) assisting in technical and training program implementation, staff recruitment, and program monitoring and evaluation.