As a major two-year initiative to train public servants throughout the Caribbean winds down, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is setting its focus on continuing the momentum digitally.
Word of this is coming from Dr. Darran Newman, Division Chief of CDB’s Technical Cooperation Division, which has organised workshops in Public Policy Analysis and Management and Project Cycle Management (PPAM/PCM) in 18 of the Bank’s 19 Borrowing Member Countries thus far.
Dr. Newman said that work is ongoing to provide participants with online versions of the programme’s face-to-face training modules, so they can pursue additional instruction or refresh what they had already learned.
In mid-October, Government officials in Dominica and Jamaica joined the over 2,000 public servants who have already taken part in the workshops which equip participants with the skills to effectively manage, monitor and implement policies, programmes and projects.
Dominica’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, Gloria Joseph said the training followed in the tradition of CDB support for the country’s developmental efforts.
“The significance of the training is well–noticed. The training is cross cutting and is considered critical for public officers at this time considering that the Public Service is expected play an integral role in the delivery of services to citizens and more recently the attainment of the country’s resilience vision. This necessitates building capacity for public administration and project management,” said Joseph.
Speaking in Dominica at the launch of the training there, Consultant Coordinator of the Training Unit at the CDB, Reginald Graham said the programme had a special role to play as public servants contribute to Dominica’s national rebuilding effort following the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017.
“CDB recognises that it is as times such as these when we need to come even closer together to manage the challenges to rebuild stronger and better with resilience and sustainability for the future. This means that building the Dominica for the future will mean focusing on smarter policies, implementation and on resilience,” said Graham.
Dr. Newman said the PPAM/PCM training was the largest in-person public sector training programme the Bank had ever carried out.
“We felt that it was important to take this training directly to the countries to allow for interactive learning offering immediate feedback and guidance. By doing it in this way, it’s easier for the knowledge and skills to be spread to a wider group of people and it really strengthens the public sector more deeply,” she noted.
Based on ongoing quarterly monitoring and reporting, participants have indicated that the training was well-delivered and increased their knowledge, and is relevant to their work. In addition, the programme has allowed for knowledge-exchange and information-sharing. Staff of various ministries are benefiting from exposure to the work and thinking of their counterparts in other ministries.
The PPAM/PCM Training Programme was launched in 2016. CDB’s Training Unit in its Technical Cooperation Division is facilitating the training programme, and consultants from the Dods Training Group; the Centre for International Development and Training (CIDT), University of Wolverhampton; and MindBloom Consulting are delivering the modules, and providing monitoring and evaluation services.