Strategic role of human capacity development in USAID Bulgaria

Human capacity development (HCD) is a fundamental element in this program. The primary constraints to be addressed in regard to HCD are not technical but rather (1) attitude and familiarity with alternative approaches, and (2) managerial skills related to democratic institutions and market economies. This document provides an integrated conceptual framework for focusing all HCD activities (participant training, in-country training, TA) on specified results for both planning and evaluation purposes. It provides a basis for understanding the role of training in achieving the Mission"s program objectives and establishes cost-effectiveness guidelines for use of training mechanisms. It provides procedures for planning training for impact, allocating participant training funds among programs, and coordinating training in different programs through information sharing. The four elements of the Mission"s HCD approach are as follows. (1) Encourage training of trainers and development of local organizational training capacity for sustainability. (2) Plan and implement all HCD activities within a common conceptual framework on the use of training to achieve strategic objectives. (3) Direct and coordinate all HCD activities to achieve defined organizational or institutional results. Programs will use a common framework for planning training to achieve results and training resources will be directed to programs with well-defined needs and strategy. (4) The Mission will serve as a clearinghouse for information on project training activities to encourage linkages and coordination among programs for greater cost-effectiveness. The majority of the program will seek to establish a sustainable HCD capacity through institutional development or training of trainers programs. (Author abstract, modified)