TRAINING OF TRAINERS

In seeking to provide co-operatives and their umbrella organizations with the most imperative IT knowledge to increase their competitiveness in self-help approaches, the it@coops project was able to produce an aggregate of 60 co-op IT specialists and trainers from Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines-representing AWCF affiliates from 32 primary co-ops, three national umbrella co-operatives and 11 non-government organizations (NGOs) promoting co-operatives-by the second quarter of 2006. These co-op IT specialists and trainers are equipped with basic and advanced IT technical know-how, other skills in software training and gender awareness to meet the needs of co-operatives. As co-op IT specialists and trainers specialize in a particular IT area (e.g. web design, database management, e-security etc.), they are expected to conduct IT training and transfer their IT learnings to other co-op members thus forming and expanding the pool of co-op IT experts in their respective national umbrella organizations. More-over, they are also expected to assist their respective co-operatives in setting up BDCs and virtual networks that benefit even the marginalized people in the community.

From January 24 to February 3, 2006, a mid-term evaluation of the project’s first phase (also known as ICT Training of Trainers or TOT Program) was undertaken with project stakeholders including: a) an overview of the individual strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement of each new co-op IT specialist and trainer and b) an assessment of the progress of the training program per country vis-à-vis its action plan in setting up BDCs and virtual network. This was followed by an “online evaluation” in May to July 2006 facilitated by Renate Pasch, InWEnt consultant, that assessed whether the objectives of the co-op ICT TOT were met as the training course was already at its completion stage. National Confederation of Cooperatives (NATCCO), Philippines, Forum for Indonesia Co-operatives Movement (FORMASI), Indonesia and Credit Union League of Thailand (CULT), Thailand were asked to answer the online evaluation of the “Train the Trainer Program Within the it@coops Project” translated into the local language. A summary collation and analysis of responses yielded the following observations:
1. Increased self-confidence manifested by co-op IT specialists and trainers brought by the job enrichment they derived from training;
2. Co-op IT specialists and trainers acquired more tasks and responsibilities while a number were promoted within their respective co-ops; and
3. Expressed need by co-op IT specialists and trainers for:
a. actual training exposure to be able to share their learnings with others and become effective co-op IT specialists and trainers and BDC developers;
b. a supportive and an enabling environment within their local co-ops that will enable them to share their learnings in an effective way thus maximizing their potentials; and
c. additional skills training in using the Collaborative Learning Environment (CLE) as a networking tool.

The new co-op IT specialists and trainers resumed regular work in their respective co-ops by August 2006 and aside from tackling their work backlog, they were able to mentor their co-staff and conduct re-echo for selected co-op officers and staff. Through these activities, the co-op IT specialists and trainers were provided exposure that further boosted their confidence, enhanced their ICT skills and advanced their skills as trainers. Some of their distinct gains are enhanced training presentations, development of more ICT-related materials/hand-outs, increased communication through e-mail and conduct of e-coaching sessions. Moreover, in assisting their national umbrella organizations and primary co-ops with their ICT needs, these IT trainers and specialists either spearheaded the development or redesigning of websites, developed their database or set up a LAN system.

Before the year ended, AWCF participated in the first “FOSS@Work: An International Conference-Workshop for Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) in the I.T. Industry” held at Heritage Hotel Manila, Philippines from 12-15 November 2006. Attended by 50 participants from five Southeast Asian countries-coming from Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam-and one country each representing South Asia and the Pacific namely Fiji and India. Participants from the AWCF network are the following: Ms Angelita Valdez of the Philippines, Asian Women in Co-operative Development Forum (AWCF) Program Coordinator; Ms Wandee Panyavannasiri of Thailand, CULT IT Coordinator; Mr. Yohannes Agusnugroho of Indonesia, FORMASI IT Coordinator; Mr. Darwin Evangelista of the Philippines, NATCCO IT Coordinator; and three CULT, Thailand staff namely Misses Kruewan Chonlanai, Kittisak Pongkanchana and Sipakorn Suksawat.

They are among the 50 IT managers and SME decision-makers who convened for this activity to look at the possibilities wherein SMEs can use the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) for economic and social development purposes particularly in providing added value to their current business operations and in further expanding their present organizational network. This training was made possible by the combined efforts of InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany, UNDP-Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP) and the University of the Philippines-Manila through the assistance of the UNDP International Open Source Network ASEAN+3 Regional Node.

SETTING-UP OF BDCs AND VIRTUAL NETWORK

At the it@coops Steering Committee Meeting on February 5-8, 2006 in Cebu City, Philippines the it@coops stakeholders presented their ICT-supported BDC action plan per country for 2006-2007. As of September 2006, at least six primary co-operatives from each AWCF national umbrella organization had committed to set up their own BDCs. Some of these primary co-ops have discussed the merits of this project as well as their BDC action plan not just at the level of their Board of Directors (BODs) but also at their General Assembly, the co-ops’ highest decision-making body, to ensure the adoption and allocation of funds for BDCs.

Through these BDCs, ICT area centers and local telecenters widely accessible to the public will be established and supported benefiting co-operatives and women-owned and/or managed MSMEs as the latter will gain access to important IT services and applications through a one-stop shop tying up all the services available for members-entrepreneurs. In the long run, project shareholders anticipate that the BDCs will eventually become income-generating services of the co-operatives.

The Steering Committee also discussed the basics of setting up virtual networks of co-ops within and between the countries involved in the project, specifically at national and trans-regional levels. Through this endeavor, the network established among local and regional co-ops will systematize co-op operational procedures, facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge affecting co-ops and its members, and enable co-ops to act in the market while promoting and improving product-market competitiveness. Furthermore, efforts beneficial at the national level will also be promoted that include the co-op IT specialists and trainers’ pool, update of the existing local websites, and development and exchange of newsletters and training materials.

Further promotion on the merits of setting up BDCs and the virtual network will be part of the per country National IT Workshop on BDCs and the Managers’ Training which are planned for late 2006 or early 2007.