Training
The offer of ‘training packages' to support the design and implementation of Programme Based Approaches is still quite minimal. Especially where it concerns programmes in productive sectors, such as agriculture and rural development, and especially where it concerns national stakeholders (as opposed to donor representatives).
At present, we are only aware of two training packages oriented towards Sector Programmes or Sector Wide Approaches; one by the Train4Development Network and one by the European Commission.
Of these, the Train4Development package is probably the most relevant option for the users of this website. The package is called ‘Joint Learning Programme on Sector Wide Approaches' and it concerns a three-day workshop for national stakeholders and donors. The training is co-financed from a Joint Learning Programme (JLP) basket organised by a multi-donor group, among which are Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Ireland, Finland, Switzerland and the European Commission. Whereas the JLP basket covers preparation and delivery of the workshop (including trainers' fees), it is expected that the local donor community in the country concerned covers additional costs such as venue, equipment hire, copying costs and (where relevant) the accommodation of participants. For more information see:
Train4dev SWAP Training application form
The second option concerns the training package developed by the European Commission (EC) under the title ‘Managing Budgetary Support and EC Support to Sector Programmes'. This is a four-day training course, predominantly meant for EC officials. These courses are held either in Brussels or at country level in the delegations. Only in the latter case, i.e. courses held in delegations, is there a possibility for national stakeholders to attend. However, as these courses are oriented towards EC support, national stakeholders only get to attend when they are involved in these EC supported programmes and when they are selected as key counterparts by the EC Delegation in the country concerned.
This, and other related EC courses are designed and coordinated by the Europe Aid Help Desk on Budgetary Aid, Sector Programmes and Project Cycle Management which can be accessed at http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/qsm/budget_en.htm . From this website you will be able to download a series of EC guidelines on (i) Support to Sector Programmes (2003); (ii) Programming and Implementation of Budgetary Aid (2002) and (iii) Project Cycle Management Guidelines (2004).
Any information on additional training packages is highly appreciated and can be posted on this website following by sending an email to the site-manager at dd@salamandernet.de