Training needs assessment of community action for development and environment conservation trust - Arusha

Date

2005

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Southern New Hampshire University

Abstract

This is a Training Needs Assessment (TNA) project: the case of CADECT CBO. The assessment came as a request of group leaders on conducting training on skills for community raining and facilitation. The assessment is an analysis of current training needs of the group. It is essentially based on primary data from the field i.e. group members, and it is closely related to works done by scholars involved in training and adult learning such as Frank et al (1978), Silberman (1996), Gajanayake (1986) and Prahad et al (1992) who have dwelt on how the community and organizations can be empowered in terms of skills so that to reach a common goal of development. From CADECT's project implementation reports of 2002 and 2003, it was noted that there was a problem of failure to involve more community members in the development projects implemented in the community. It is four years now since the organization started its operations. Problems of unsanitary, seasonal hunger, low incomes, and environmental degradation have been insignificantly eliminated from the village. According to group leaders, there had been no formal training to the group on how to train the community regarding different developmental issues. It was observed that projects have been implemented by few people who are mostly members of the group. This might be due to lack of transfer of knowledge and experience from the group members to the rest of the community members, lack of awareness, lack of training and lack of confidence of the group members responsible for awareness creation among the community members. A population of twenty one (21) group members was expected but only twenty (20) were reached. This was 96% of the expected population. Findings showed that the group needed trainings in community training and facilitation skills, HIV/AIDS, Rain water harvesting, Food storage and preservation systems, training on Income generating activities, Environmental conservation training and Cleanliness and hygiene training. A training package on community training and facilitation skills was prepared and four leaders of the group were trained to build their capacity in training the rest of group members. The following was recommended: Relevant and result based trainers/facilitators course should be conducted to group members for them to be able to train the community members on different projects and other developmental issues. The group needs a refresher course in HIV/AIDS to be in a better position to disseminate relevant messages on the disease to the community. The group need capacity building in issues of people's participation and bottom up approaches so as they may get away with dependency mentality. The community should identify potential resources in the area (land, animals etc) so that they may be utilized effectively to improve incomes of the community members. The group and community at large should be trained on practices which delays project implementation. Heavy punishment should be given to those who misuse funds donated for projects for the community of Mkonoo. (Author abstract)

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