Human resource development

Objective
Develop human resource capacity

Background information and methodology
Human resource development in NARS constitutes the foundation of long-term sustainable agricultural research and a high premium needs to be placed on the development of high caliber staff. Shortage of professional manpower in the NARS continues to be a major weakness.

To expose the different training opportunities at IITA, in regional institutions, in-country and elsewhere, consolidate and satisfy training needs, the coordination office will (a) work closely with programs to identify and select appropriate scientists/technicians for training courses, which may be in-country, regional or at IITA (b) collaborate with monitoring and evaluation units in national institutions/IITA in following up careers of past trainees; (c) help training programs to constantly improve effectiveness of courses in responding to genuine concerns of the NARS; and (d) encourage scientific visits and research attachments with regional institutions/IITA to build up skills and expertise of national program personnel.

Both formal and informal training at several levels, making increased use of regional resource persons and institutions, are proposed to develop the manpower necessary for strong national cassava research programs and for building an effective network within the region. These courses will focus on particular production problems or research methodologies identified by the SC. Participants at the different training sessions will include research scientists and technicians from the network member countries.

Organization of regional and in-country non-degree, in-service training courses for researchers and extension services personnel will be conducted. Exchange visits among regional and national scientists will improve communication, foster information exchange and research experiences.

Activities
¨ Training of trainers
¨ Training of researchers and technicians
¨ Post graduate training for researchers

Expected output
¨ Increased efficiency of extension agents, farmers, and processors
¨ Skills and expertise of artisans/fabricators broadened
¨ Skills and expertise of trainers in rapid multiplication techniques increased
¨ Improved human resource capacity in the proposed courses
¨ Increased number of highly qualified cassava research scientists

Indicators for monitoring progress and impact
· Number of institutions and participants in training courses
· Number of extension agents, farmers, and processors trained
· Reduction in the percent of broken equipment
· Increase in number of skilled trained trainers
· At least 5 researchers or technicians trained in each course
· Number of researchers trained at post-graduate level