Agriculture Research Management: Training Modules
Full Review

Reviewed by: Dimyati Nangju, Director for International Affairs, PPA Consultants, Jakarta, Indonesia
Review posted 13 August 2004
Review No. 18

CD-ROM Information

Content: Skills training for agricultural research management in developing countries.
Publication Date: 30 June 2002
Audience: Trainers in national agricultural research systems (NARS) in developing countries, particularly in Africa.

Size: 333 MB
Price: US$100
Manual needed: No
How to order:

Order by mail:
International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR)
Laan van Nieuw Oost Indie 133, 2593 BM
The Hague, The Netherlands

E-mail: ISNAR-Training@cgiar.org
ISNAR website*

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Full Review

The CD-ROM is produced and distributed by the International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) based in the Hague, Netherlands. One of ISNAR’s primary objectives is to strengthen the capacity of developing countries’ national agricultural research on policy and organization issues.

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Content

The content of CD-ROM was developed on the basis of thorough training needs and organization constraints assessment of NARS. Its content is highly relevant to the national governments, funding agencies and international agencies that have a strong interest in strengthening the national agricultural research institutions in developing countries. The modules include:

1. Priority setting for agricultural and research programs
2. Planning, monitoring, and evaluating of research projects
3. Scientific writing and presentation
4. Research program formulation
5. Strategic planning
6. Gender analysis for management of research in agriculture and natural resources
7. Framework and methodology on training need assessment and organizational constraints assessment in Kenya
8. Financial management in research on agriculture and natural research management

The CD-ROM's topics deal with major weaknesses or deficiencies in the performance of many NARS in developing countries. These issues include priority setting, planning, monitoring and evaluation, scientific writing and presentation, research program formulation, strategic planning, gender analysis, and financial management.

Each module in the CD-ROM contains all the materials trainers need, including:

• Overview and objectives of the training
• Instructions to trainers
• Materials and handouts to be provided to the participants
• Tentative schedule for the day-to-day training program
• Exercises and worksheets for the participants
• Overheads needed to explain the module’s topic
• Key references and bibliography that may be needed by the trainers and the participants to learn more about the topic under discussion.

These materials are clear, concise, and well prepared.

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Users

The intended users are NARS national trainers in developing countries, particularly in Africa where most of its research institutions are considered weak compared to national research institutions in Asia and Latin America. ISNAR believes that by improving the capacity of local trainers, it will increase the multiplier effect of its training at both the national and regional levels of the agricultural research institutions since the trainers are expected to train NARS’ policy makers, senior managers, and program leaders in their countries.

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User-friendliness

The CD-ROM is easy to use and navigate even in the absence of a manual, provided the user has a good quality computer that meets ISNAR’s specifications, specified in the CD-ROM. The overall presentation is clear and easy to follow.

However, there is scope for improving its quality. First, the titles of the training modules should be short and attractive, and should not contain abbreviations such as SADC, ESAMI, KARI, ICTP, and ARMT that confuse users.

Second, it should avoid duplication in the presentation of the training modules. For example, the training modules on 1. Planning, monitoring, and evaluation of research projects and 2. Research program formulation are found in both SADC/ESAMI/ISNAR Training Modules, and ICTP ARMT Training Module. The user may have a problem in determining which of the two modules to use.

Thirdly, there should be an executive summary to explain the significance of each module.

Fourthly, the training modules are written mainly in English, and partly in Spanish. This is a poor arrangement. All the training modules should be written in English for users who can write and speak English. For non-English speaking users, there should be separate CD-ROMs in Spanish, French, Chinese or other major languages of the world.

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Interactivity

There is no evidence that the CD-ROM has flexibility to be used in conjunction with audio-visual and interactive options. The CD-ROM is intended only to provide adequate materials for the trainers to use in training classes. For example, the overheads contained in the CD-ROM may have to be transferred to PowerPoint presentation that could be combined with audio-visual and interactive options.

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Distribution

Copies of the CD-ROM can be obtained from ISNAR. Information on how to obtain copies of the CD-ROM from ISNAR is explained in the CD-ROM, but there are no details about price and method of payment. Upon inquiry, ISNAR explained that each CD-ROM costs about $100, including delilvery cost. This means that persons from developing countries may have a problem to order this if they cannot pay in hard currencies. At present, ISNAR has a CD-ROM for distribution but not the latest version. Some of the training modules are downloadable free of charge from ISNAR’s web site*.

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Sustainability

One of the good aspects of the training modules is that they reflect Participatory Action Plan Approach. This approach has been designed to meet the following objectives:

• Systematic and continuous planning of future activities by trainees as training evolves
• Formal link between trainees and trainer for determining which skills have been used in the job
• Further involvement of trainees in improving the training materials after the training event.

With regard to the third objective, ISNAR has been able to continuously improve the content of the CD-ROM on the basis of the feedback received from trainers and trainees. Therefore, even though the training materials were prepared in 1997 and 1998, ISNAR has updated and revised its content in 2000 and it is this latest content that has been reviewed. It appears that the updating does not have to be done every year; it could be done every three years.

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Instructions

A manual is not needed in order to make best use of the CD-ROM provided the user is computer literate. The training modules can be opened easily by clicking the forward and backward arrow signs. To use the CD-ROM, there must be basic technical requirements as follows: (i) PC with a 486/50 Mhz or higher processor; Pentium 90 recommended; (ii) Microsoft Windows 3.1 or 3.4; Microsoft Windows 95 or 98; Microsoft Windows NT 3.51 or 4.0 operating system; (iii) Minimum 8 MB Ram; 16 MB recommended; (iv) 10 MB hard disk space; (v) CD-ROM drive; and (vi) VGA or higher resolution display with at least 156 colors; 24-bit color recommended.

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