Training

ACNARS contributed to NARI human resource development through training needs assessment, application of a competency-based training approach, a formal performance review process, documentation of HR management standards, annual work planning systems, computer training and production of interactive training materials. This has re-built Papua New Guinea’s technical knowledge base and agricultural R&D capability, reversing the long term decline that preceded the establishment of NARI.

Since the ACNARS project has ended, ongoing mentoring through the AIGF initiative has continued, with various workshops run to assist staff in effective management of their AIGF projects.

Monitoring of staff attitudes and desires for training have been conducted after AIGF capacity building workshops.

Participants responses to the questions below, relating to the workshop and resources (notes and CD-ROM) on a graded scale from strongly negative to strongly positive.

	Strongly negative			Strongly positive
	Percentage of responses in each category (n=26)
Workshop notes provided- degree of usefulness	0	4	12	85
Workshop topics- degree of usefulness	0	0	15	85
Level of enthusiasm for further workshops?	0	0	8	92
Perceived usefulness of the AIGF Capacity Building CD-ROM.	0	0	8	92

57 percent of those who attended capacity building training requested assistance with proposal writing and 1/3 of all participants requested both further training in report writing and more workshops covering various computer and writing, project management skills.

Recent training has also included assisting scientists to develop an improved method of managing the large volumes of data in the Plant Genetic Resources area. IPGRI- the international centre prefers to have information in numerical format- which is great for that purpose but rather hides the information from the end user in PNG. The database developed allows the entry of values but both numbers and text can be obtained from the database.

Soil fertility training and research advice have been given to young scientists in NARI.

Surveys are ongoing and recent input has been provided to assist in the analysis of data from the peri-urban survey in Port Moresby. Contact Mark Johnston for furthe information.

The destruction caused by late blight in potato is very significant for the many growers of potatos in PNG and the end users. ACNARS advisor Martin Gunther is supporting and advising NARI and FPDA to overcome this problem.

Send mail to Dave Askin with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: 24-Mar-2006

Send mail to Dave Askin with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 24-Mar-2006