RG-T2640 : Capacity Building Training Program at Scale: Improving Productivity in LAC

The main objective of this project is the strengthening of capacities linked with productivity improvement in the LAC region through Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). In the document of the Update to the Institutional Strategy 2010¿2020 (Annual Meeting 2015 in Busan) it is defined that one of the structural and emerging development challenges are Low Productivity and Innovation. This document states also that some factors behind the productivity lag are related to the characteristics of the labor force. Research and development (R&D) and workforce skills help to stimulate productivity growth via their effects on innovation and absorptive capacity. It¿s also demonstrated that high-level skills contribute more to productivity the closer a country is to the technological frontier . Capacity building programs directed to improve the productivity should be focused in the strengthening of technical and performance skills. The technical skills will be defined by the VSP sectors. For the performance skills INDES has identified three cross learning areas that have an influence in productivity: ¿ Management improvement: Training related to public or business management, hard skills (financial monitoring, planning, evaluation, etc.) and soft skills (communication, negotiation, leadership, etc.) ¿ Evidence based decisions and data literacy: Training related to data collection, database management, data analysis, impact evaluation or other related field. ¿ Technological orientation: Training related to the use of technology for improving institutions performance, as modeling tools, software, etc.