Evaluation report on training of trainers on UNCCD/NAP: DCG Report No. 47

Since 2002, the Drylands Coordination Group (DCG) has conducted five workshops devoted to the Training of Trainers on National Action Programmes (NAP) relating to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCC) in Ethiopia. This paper reports on an assessment of these events, to identify and streamline whatever limitations they may have had.

The main objectives of the assessment included - investigating how different organisations managed to apply the training, determining the extent the training helped build capacity, and, drawing lessons that may improve similar trainings in the future.

Key findings include:

• the effectiveness of the training in terms of knowledge attained or know-how gap addressed is substantial
• the appropriateness of the training is above average as perceived by nine-tenths of the trainees
• implementation of UNCCD/NAP is a concern for target institutions as replied by 91% of them in spite of differences in the level of perceptions
• the learning acquired is claimed to have been integrated into regular activities by about six-tenths of the trainees.

Three sets of recommendations were suggested. These included:

• Training-specific cases to improved upon:involving, amongst others - region-specific training, improved training materials and extended duration, improved gender mix of participants and developing monitoring and evaluation guidelines
• Institutional mainstreaming:providing for decision-makers awareness workshops and enlisting the participation of all imaginable stakeholders
• Policy aspects:addressing the national apathy reigning regarding NAP, giving prominence to the links between international trade and desertification, and aiding the dissemination of knowledge by all means possible.