Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Training on Nutrition Project (BNPMC)

Training objectives of this project were;

  1. Initiation
  2. Scoping
  3. Schedule Creation
  4. Project Budgeting
  5. Risk Planning
  6. Communication Planning
  7. Quality Planning
  8. Team Formation and Deployment
  9. Procurement
  10. Integrated Scope and Schedule Change Control
  11. Reporting
  12. Cost and Risk Controls
  13. Policy Implementation and Monitoring

Activities taken under this Training Project

116 people were trained on three key aspects of project management, from eight districts (including Quetta) in the period 5th Feb to 26th June. The consolidated attendance of each participant in the PMT and DT series is presented as Appendix 01. Participants for PMT-1 and 2 were mainly from Quetta. The participants for the DT Series were from the districts of Kharan, Killa Saifullah, Kohlu, Noshki, Panjgoor, Sibbi and Zhob (see map in Visual 01). Overall 19% of the trainees were women and 81% were men. A higher ratio of women were present in the PMT Series as compared to the women in the DT Series, who were mainly the BCC Officers from the districts (see Visual 02).

Delivery

The PMT-1 training was organised at the Gardenia Resort and Hotel in Quetta from the 5th of Feb to the 10th of Feb. The four DT Series trainings were a two-day affair conducted between 6th to 16th March. Each event and was residential as per agreement reached on the 26th of Feb. Districts were grouped according to geographic location, travel duration and actualisation time. The residence of the participants and training sessions were organised at the Gardenia Resort and Hotel in Quetta. The two-day PMT-2 was held on the 25th and 26th of June at the Serena Hotel.

Each event, regardless of duration, was structured to (a) first focus on the three main topics of PM found to be most in-demand (see TNA) and to introduce PM concepts listed in see Visual 05), and (b) then conduct group work, group presentations and discussions on the three main topics (see Visual 03). Each group was asked to consider prevailing situations, challenges within their own working sphere of operations. A total of 24 presentations, discussions and activities were held and 14 group work sessions were conducted. Appropriate number of brain teasers and energizers were used to keep the interactive nature sustained.

In all six training events, the participants were served with refreshments, working tea and lunch. Pictorial evidences, videos and attendances were recorded for all training events. Participation was acknowledged at the end of each event through certificate distribution. PMT series participants were given bags. DT Series participants were give plastic folders.

PMU has been enabled with the sharing of the (a) TNA Master Dataset handed over on 26th Feb. It has been further empowered with the sharing of the (b) TRNG Master Dataset which is populated with participant attendance and feedback data. All training content, data, group outputs and consolidations are uploaded to a Google drive, the link to which is shared with PMU and the Third Party Evaluators.

Achievements

  1. Two Master Datasets on the TNA and Trainings created and populated for analytical and reporting purposes, and to enable PMU to record and track future capability enhancements. These Excel-based workbooks have been handed over to PMU and are also uploaded to a shared Google drive;
  2. In spite of a very heterogeneous group of participants the PMT-1 training was a success, as inferred from the feedback received. See Appendix 06 for detailed feedback analysis;
  3. The involvement of interns in PMT-1 as alternate participants allowed the Master Trainer the opportunity to effectively demonstrate real-life scenarios and relate those to project management techniques, without affecting/challenging the staff. Towards the end of the training the interns turned out to be a good support structure for the six staff members that attended all five days;
  4. Overall, the Project-centric and results-oriented approach culminated in:
    1. Realization of at least 50+ lessons learnt by the participants (see Table 05);
    2. District-wise current problem mapping, along with solutions. The same was shared as work group assignments in PMT-2 and consolidated. PMU will benefit greatly if the final recommendations presented in the chapter on outcomes are discussed in detail with the DNOs and IP District Coordinators;
    3. BNPMC contextualized Programme Glossary was drafted. This output of the first five trainings was presented to the participants of PMT-2 with the hope that the same is now finalized by the M&E Department and posted to the BNPMC website;
    4. SOPs for ensuring good communications across the board and for conducting Focus Group Discussions are finalised and also shared with ALL staff (see Appendix and 04 and 05 respectively);
    5. Compile FAQs for field staff (draft awaited to date);
    6. Preparation of an Internee Induction and Orientation Manual (draft was handed over by the interns to Dr. Faisal and now needs a final review by PMU).
  5. Throughout the District Series the Trainers (see Appendix 05) remained supportive of enabling female participants, including babysitting an infant so that the mother could remain focused on group work. Accompanying chaperones for young women were also accommodated, an in two cases the chaperones was included in the training and awarded special certificates. The Trainers hoped to demonstrate equity for women in the BNPMC Project.