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Natural
Resources Training Institute - Helvetas Project BH 30 – Phase IV
Phase:
IV (July 2002
– June 2006)
Budget:
999’000.- CHF (equivalent to roughly 34.9 Mio Nu.)
Rationale of
the Project Support:
Agriculture has been and still is a very important sector in Bhutan where
the majority of the population still is directly or indirectly involved in
farming. The Helvetas project support to the Natural Resources Training
Institute (now College of Natural Resources) has always been based on the
conviction that in such a setting the establishment and support of an
training institute for extension agents is a worthwhile investment to
enhance the livelihoods of the farming population and to have a positive
impact on rural development.
Focus of Phase
IV:
Whilst previous phases of the project support aimed at building up the
institute and establishing respectively consolidating the core activities
(diploma and in-service training), the focus of this phase very much was on
institutional development. In other words this phase was aiming at
supporting NRTI to be an institute that provides quality training and
services in a sustainable way such as to make a relevant and lasting
contribution to rural development. Key issues for this phase therefore were:
linkages within and outside of Bhutan, adjusting of training offers to the
needs in the field and to upcoming needs, logistics and infrastructure,
improved teaching learning resources and access to knowledge as well as HRD.
Achievements
and Impact:
As most visible outcomes Phase IV has left NRTI with a new guesthouse for
easier accommodation of in-service training participants, with new living
quarters for the farm labourers and with a new bus to ensure continuous
mobility for block-weeks and exposure tours. Furthermore, a local area
network, a modernized ICT lab, a student computer room and a V-Sat uplink
(providing fast 24-hours access to the internet) allow students and teachers
to update and exchange their knowledge and to link up with each other and
the world.
A less visible
but equally important outcome was an extensive questionnaire survey that
harvested the answers of more than half of the extension agents in the
field. It provided detailed information about where the review of the
diploma curriculum is needed and gave a good insight into the training needs
of the extension agents as well. The inventory and re-classification of the
library stock was conducted as the first step towards a better library
organization and upgrading of the library to meet the new needs. The
development of a networking strategy created awareness amongst the staff on
the importance and ways of networking/linking up and provides guidance on
how to go about it. Last but not least - according to a long tradition
Helvetas also kept on supporting the further education of NRTI staff members
with various short- and long-term trainings.
Whilst an
external review showed that NRTI has had a positive impact on the quality of
the extension services in Bhutan it also revealed critical points and
potential hot-spots that should be taken care of if NRTI wants to continue
to provide quality education in an environment of change and new
developments.
Future Outlook:
The findings of the evaluation, together with the outcome of a participatory
analysis and planning exercise within NRTI formed the base for the planning
of the so-called Consolidation Phase – the presently ongoing phase of
Helvetas support to the College of Natural Resources (see:
nrti).
The Consolidation Phase got its name from the main goal it pursues: to
consolidate existing activities, identify and close gaps as needed such as
to allow NRTI to master any challenges ahead without support from outside
agencies. Consequently the Consolidation Phase will be run under NEX. This
stands for “national execution”, meaning implementation of activities
without involvement of resident expatriates. And so, the start of the new
phase at the same time marked the end of a period of more than a decade of
resident Swiss Expatriates at NRTI.
Important
Documents and Links
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