SECTOR: Education

PROJECT NAME: Project to Promote Private Sector Participation in Technical Training in Rural Areas (ATN/MH-5736-GU) 

TOTAL COST: $2,889,000

FINANCING:

MIF $2,000,000 (Grant)

LOCAL $ 889,000

DATE OF APPROVAL: October 29, 1997

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The project's objective is to strengthen the capacity of private training institutions to develop technical training methods that will improve the competitiveness of rural producers belonging to the various ethnic groups of the nation. Specific objectives are to: (a) develop and systematize the technical training methodologies of two leading institutions to make them replicable and transferable to other private institutions; (b) validate the methodology by carrying out technical training pilot projects to create a demonstration effect and serve as models for other private training institutions; and (c) establish lines of communication and exchange between participating organizations and other institutions that provide technical training to facilitate the sharing of experiences and information. The project has three components: (a) development and systematization of technical training methodologies; (b) rural technical training; and (c) sharing of experiences and project dissemination.

The methodologies component will fund the following activities: (a) review and consolidation of the methodological materials of the Foundation for the Development and Education of Indigenous Women (FUNDEMI) and the Central American Foundation for Private Sector Initiative (FUNDACEN-ISEP); (b) acquisition of teaching methods and materials from other Latin American institutions; and (c) adjustment of these materials to current conditions in rural Guatemala.

The rural training component will validate the methodology systematized in the first component by implementing that methodology through pilot-training programs for three groups: (a) 20 professionals/ technical instructors with know-how of agricultural and industrial activities; (b) 200 facilitators who are community members and leaders; and (c) 2,000 community entrepreneurs and producers in agriculture and/or industry. This process will then be disseminated to other public and private institutions and agencies that conduct training programs for the target population.

The sharing and dissemination component will provide for: (a) the sharing of experiences with associated institutions (through working meetings, traineeships, reciprocal field visits, etc.) and participating institutions (through regional and national workshops to exchange methodological information); and (b) organization of two regional seminars, a national/international seminar, and other activities for the dissemination of results and successful outcomes.

CONSULTANTS: The methodologies component will finance consultants to: (a) review the methods and training services of FUNDEMI and FUNDACEN and adapt the information to the Guatemalan context; and (b) systematize and develop 12 training modules (eight economic and four management), including conducting a market study of economic activities. Two consultants (one each for FUNDEMI and FUNDACEN) will be hired to: (a) perform an institutional analysis, focusing on service delivery and overall management of the programs; and (b) give technical assistance as needed (12 months) to develop the management capacity of FUNDEMI and FUNDACEN.

For the rural technical training component, FUNDACEN and FUNDEMI will recruit technical instructors to: (a) promote the project in the communities; (b) train the facilitators; and (c) monitor the level of participation, content, materials, teaching resources, performance and results of the instruction provided by the facilitators who train the producers. The component will also finance: (a) a legal specialist to assist FUNDACEN AND FUNDEMI with the legalization of producer groups; and (b) a Guatemalan expert (12 months), according to the specific needs of each institution.

In addition, the project will fund: (a) a consulting firm or university to design a project monitoring and evaluation system and evaluate project operation; and (b) a consulting firm to perform the ex-post evaluation.

GOODS AND EQUIPMENT: Procurement of minor equipment will include demonstration production units (audiovisual teaching materials) photocopiers, fax machines and computer equipment.

EXECUTING AGENCY: Fundación para el Desarrollo y Educación de la Mujer Indígena

(FUNDEMI)

Apartado Postal No. 27

San Pedro Carchá

Alta Verapaz, Guatemala

Tel: (502) 952-2354

Fax: (502) 952-2354

Contact: Otoniel Gamboa

Fundación Centroamericana por la Iniciativa del Sector Privado (FUNDACEN-ISEP)

4a Avenida 11-37, Zona 10

Guatemala City, Guatemala

Tel: (502) 361-9037

Fax: (502) 334-1315

Contact: Armando Secaira