(SAR) to Support Agricultural Monitoring 2 - Group on Earth ...

International GEO Workshop on <strong>SAR</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Support</strong> <strong>Agricultural</strong> Moni<strong>to</strong>ring
• Providing training without clients having a clear idea of how they want <strong>to</strong> use the
<strong>to</strong>ols or software, or how it fits in<strong>to</strong> the big picture.
• Providing training <strong>to</strong> the wrong personnel or those who are not going <strong>to</strong> do the work.
• Training only one person in the institution, given the high turnover observed.
• Keeping the training purely technical, and excluding high level management from the
framework of the capacity building.
• Providing training for <strong>to</strong>ols requiring resources that are not available.
He continued by saying that approaches that DO work include:
• Push versus Pull: The best training is provided on demand; this indicates a real
interest from the institution or partners receiving the training.
• Practical buy-in: when the institution puts some resources in<strong>to</strong> the training, it is more
likely that there is a real interest in using the <strong>to</strong>ol.
• Political will: high-level support within the institution is essential.
• Context: The training needs <strong>to</strong> be embedded within a larger institutional and
operational framework so that:
o Trainees and management are made aware of the benefits of the
enhancements.
o New expectations are set at a managerial level based on newly (<strong>to</strong> be)
acquired skills.
o The training enhances existing operating procedures and plans.
o There is greater focus on end-<strong>to</strong>-end application including processing,
interpretation and analysis.
• Relevance: the persons that receive the training should be those who are going <strong>to</strong> use
the <strong>to</strong>ols or software inside the institutions. (Often, regional training programs do not
result in take-up back home.)
• Independent Training: Providing detailed comprehensive tu<strong>to</strong>rials and manuals that
can be followed by trainees without the presence of the trainer.
• Sustainability: institutionalize the capacity building and training programs, preferably
through educational institutions.
• Ensure continuity and practical utility of the training:
o Ongoing communications between the trainer and the trainees that guarantee a
cycle of information that is being worked with the <strong>to</strong>ols.
o Follow up the questions or doubts of the trainees in order not <strong>to</strong> lose their
interest in the <strong>to</strong>ols.
Johnson Owaro (Office of the Prime Minister - Government of Uganda) presented
“Developing EO Capacity Building Programmes for Agriculture Moni<strong>to</strong>ring”. His
thoughtful and thought-provoking presentation linked GEO plans and aspirations with the
real needs of developing countries. He showed that a Military Decision <strong>Support</strong> System has
the following components:
• Identify the problem
• Understand the problem
• Examine courses of action
• Determine course of action
13