UNITAR and BADEA Concludes Successful Training on Project Monitoring Framework and Tools
8 January 2018, Geneva, Switzerland – The longstanding collaboration between UNITAR and The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) reached another milestone with the successful completion of its joint 2-week face-to-face training on "Strengthening the Capacities of African Officials from BADEA Beneficiary Countries on Project Monitoring Frameworks and Tools" for English-speaking African officials.
The training was conducted from December 10 to 21, 2017 at the BADEA Headquarters in Khartoum, Sudan and was participated by officials from Cameroon, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Mozambique, and Swaziland who are overseeing infrastructure projects financed by BADEA.
The Director General of BADEA, H.E. Dr Sidi Ould Tah formally opened the training on 10 December 2017.
Effective Training Methodology
The training was designed around the expressed needs of BADEA staff and officials from beneficiary countries to help them achieve their individual learning objectives to contribute to effective monitoring of projects financed by BADEA.
The training sessions included a mix of lectures, round-table discussions, case study exercises, and GIS lab exercises using GIS datasets and real case scenarios with 60% case study and lab exercises, and 40% lectures and discussions.
The first week of the training programme focused on management of project monitoring. It covered fundamentals and practice of modern project monitoring, development and implementation of project monitoring frameworks, new technologies and implementation of new technologies for project monitoring, decision making and communicating project results.
Week two focused on new technology applications for project monitoring. It covered introduction to Geographic Information Systems, familiarization with GIS Software (ArcGIS), organizing and visualizing spatial data for project monitoring using GIS, GIS case study, use of satellite Imagery for project monitoring, field data collection (i.e. UN-ASIGN), and introduction to the BADEA online project monitoring system.
Each session built upon from the previous session’s activities and discussions.
Positive Results
The training achieved two key results mainly the transfer of knowledge in developing and implementing effective project monitoring frameworks, and in organizing and visualizing project monitoring indicators using GIS and collecting data using geospatial tools.
The high rating for relevance to their job and achievement of learning objectives confirm that the training content and delivery met the participants’ diverse learning needs and interests. The participants were mostly field project managers and government officials overseeing projects.
Some notable feedback from the participants indicated that the methodology was useful given the learning objectives, the training facilitators were effective in stimulating participant involvement and responding to questions by the participants, and appreciated the organizational support provided by UNITAR and BADEA.
Overall, the participants agree and strongly agree (100%) that the training was satisfactory and that they would recommended it to a colleague.
Comments by the training participants
The organizers also received the comments below from the participants after the event which gives further indication on the utility of the training.
“This event gave an opportunity for BADEA staff and beneficiaries to meet and to learn about new tools for M&E.”
“The impact of this seminar was excellent, and it is really going to help improving the ongoing project I’m supervising. “
“This training had a lot of information that was new to me, and most of it even clarified some of the things I thought I knew.”
About BADEA
The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) was established pursuant to the resolution of the 6th Arab Summit Conference at Algiers (28th November 1973). The Bank began operations in March 1975. BADEA is a financial institution owned by eighteen Arab countries members of the League of Arab States (LAS) which signed its Establishing Agreement in 18th February 1974. The Bank is an independent International Institution enjoying full international legal status and complete autonomy in administrative and financial matters. It is governed by the provisions of its Establishing Agreement and the principles of international law. The Bank’s Headquarters is located in Khartoum, the capital of the Republic of the Sudan. For more information about BADEA, please see: www.badea.org
Photo 1: Training session at BADEA headquarters in Khartoum (Sudan).
Photo 2: Participants and BADEA representatives at the end of the training.