Sudan : southern manpower development

The project will be implemented by Sudan"s Southern Regional Government (SRG) with the assistance of a U.S. contractor. The project"s major outputs will be the training of 110 students per year at the Yambio Institite for Agricultural Technicians to become middle managers and technicians and the training of another 120 per year at the Rumbek Agricultural Training Center to work as village extensionists. Commodities and long- and short-term technical assistance (TA) will be provided for the two facilities. Curricula based on traditional local farming systems and incorporating ample practical training will be designed. At Yambio, students will also collect data on local farming practices; two students will be provided B.S. fellowships; key staff will be provided short overseas training; a library will be established; and educational materials will be purchased. Special attention will be given to training women. At Rumbek, 20 farmer/pastoralist field days will be held annually. The staffs of both institutions will receive an intensive 3-week course in teaching methods. The project will also initiate a continuing education program through the two institutions, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and the College of Adult Education and Training at the University of Juba. Four 3-week training sessions with 15 participants each will be held annually. A dormitory/classroom will be constructed at Yambio for this purpose and participants" transportation and food will be provided. In addition, the MOA"s Juba office will receive long- and short-term TA to strengthen its capacity to plan, manage, and support agricultural training and extension. A major task will be to identify ways to make extension a desirable career. Finally, a logistical capacity to provide U.S. project technicians with housing, fuel, food, and other supplies will be established, building on the existing UN Development Program"s support system.