Role of Technical Assistants in Transactions and How it Can be Strengthened

The workshop was facilitated by Alia Zafar, Lead HRM and Labor, Crown Agents. The objectives of the workshop were to develop an understanding of the roles of TAs, identify task and responsibilities, skills and knowledge areas, work flows, and processes in place, and review which processes may require improvement. The workshop was attended by all Technical Assistants who are currently working with Transaction Managers, and the team of Crown agents, Chief of Party, Crown Agents. The facilitator introduced the agenda for the session, explaining what was expected from TAs with respect to input they would provide during the workshop. The facilitator also shared few examples of bottlenecks during the transaction process and solicited TAs' feedback on their experiences. The workshop focused on developing an understanding of the roles of TAs, identifying task and responsibilities, skills and knowledge areas, work flows, and processes in place. The facilitator led the participants through a series of activities, including creating a map of possible options for process flow to TAs and finalizing thoughts with a work map for what actions need to be taken for enhanced effectiveness of deliverables. The participants were asked to provide feedback on the relevance of the content, information gained, and learning techniques used during the workshop. The feedback indicated that the participants found the workshop to be highly interactive and relevant, with many learning new skills and knowledge areas. The participants also suggested that future capacity-building areas should include financial analysis, success stories related to the Privatisation Commission, communication, organization structure, online checking of different courts cause lists, and how to read a balance sheet. The workshop resulted in the development of a list of key tasks and responsibilities that TAs are required to perform, as well as a standard sequence of activities that TAs perform. The facilitator also highlighted the importance of having standards Job Descriptions, which are currently missing. The discussion also focused on the key skills that TAs consider are important for undertaking the tasks they have mentioned. The workshop was a follow-up to an earlier workshop with TAs, where checklists for Labor and HRM were shared. This workshop was more specific, focusing on those TAs who are providing assistance to Transaction managers in their daily work. The workshop provided the SFP team with critical information regarding the role of TAs during transactions. The Privatisation Commission and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the workshop, which was prepared by Crown Agents USA, Inc. The workshop was part of the USAID Support for Privatization Activity, with the aim of strengthening the role of TAs in transactions. The workshop's success was evident from the level of interest shown by the participants during different activities, interactive discussions, and feedback. The workshop provided a platform for TAs to share their views openly and develop a comfort zone for participants to share their thoughts. The facilitator's interactive approach and use of multimedia resources helped to ensure that the discussion remained focused and did not carry away to irrelevant areas. The workshop's outcome was a better understanding of the roles of TAs, identification of task and responsibilities, skills and knowledge areas, work flows, and processes in place. The workshop also resulted in the development of a list of key tasks and responsibilities that TAs are required to perform, as well as a standard sequence of activities that TAs perform. The workshop's success was a testament to the importance of capacity-building activities for TAs in the Privatisation Commission.