NFP and Food Security Monitoring and Analysis

Training

Under NFPCSP, two kinds of training are being offered to the FPMU and to TRT members: on-site and abroad, each responding to different needs.

Intensive Training Programme (ITP)

The ITP provides the members of the TRTs with a common basis of knowledge and analytic tools to perform their duties. The Preliminary Intensive Training Programme (PITP) took place in Summer 2006 with four modules administered in the course of four months: Introduction to economics as necessary for food security; Food security concepts and issues; Analysis of policy impact on food security; and Practical applications of food security analysis and shaping of the Thematic Research Teams (TRTs).
 
Drawing on the experience and lessons learnt from the Preliminary Intensive Training Programme (PITP) 2006, course syllabi and program contents for the second Intensive Training Program were developed in close coordination among project staff, the technical backstopping division, international consultant/trainers and TAT advisors, in consultation with the FPMU. This program began in March 2007 with a course on Food and Nutrition: Principles and Policy Applications. This was followed by the following modules: Monitoring market prices for key commodities; Tools and Applications for Monitoring the National Food Policy Implementation and Planning the Thematic Research Activities; and Analysis of Policy Impact on Food Security.

Since the beginning of the project, FPMU staff and TRT members have received more than 400 hours of intensive training. These modules bring in outside trainers, as required.  NFPCSP endeavors to make the sessions as participatory as possible and specific to the Bangladesh experience by inviting relevant experts from different organizations to contribute to specific sessions.

Continuing on-site training

The TAT members, through their continuous on-the-job training role and through their participation in the TRTs, monitor the need for strengthening personal capabilities in their respective TRTs in order for the CTA, in consultation with DG FPMU, to plan for appropriate short training sessions to be held.
 
So far, English language training and Computer training are being delivered. The British Council provides the English language training. The computer training is carried out in-house and aims at responding to the specific needs of FPMU and TRT members face in their every day work.
 
As a part of this component of the NFPCSP, further training sessions, workshops or seminars are organised as needs arise to strengthen the expanded FPMU capability at addressing particular aspects of their work.

- Training abroad

Short term training abroad

Short term training abroad is provided by reputed international institutions that offer intensive specialized courses. Officers assigned to the FPMU and TRTs from partner ministries are eligible for this type of training and are selected on the basis of their performance in the Intensive Training Programmes and active participation to the TRTs.

So far, the project has sent government officials to the Netherlands’ Royal Tropical Institute to attend a course on ‘Health Sector Reforms and Financing’ at the Royal Tropical Institute, to the UK for a course on ‘Issues, Themes and Strategies in Development organized by IMA, and to the University of Wageningen for courses on ‘Market access and Sustainable Development’ and on ‘Food Safety and Quality Management in Agri-Food chains’.

Postgraduate training abroad

One FPMU staff is being sponsored to undertake a PhD in Economics at the University of Reading, UK. Three others have joined one year Master programmes with the support of NFPCSP in the Universities of Reading, Leeds and Cardiff, in the UK.