International course on rural development management

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

Philippines

4-29 August 1997

13 April - 8 May 1998

3-28 August 1998

 

International Course on Rural Development Management

This course responds to the widespread demand for management/raining for rural development practitioners. Participants come from nongovernment organizations, from government and, occasionally. from donor groups. Typically, the 25 participants represent 12 to 15 countries, enabling a vigorous exchange of varied experiences.

This four-week training activity focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of key leaders of rural development organizations. Planning, implementation and evaluation are covered. Participants are introduced to real experiences and practices in rural development. The course is unique because it is built around observations of actual field projects in rural development.

Course Structure Overview and orientation to the course Concepts and issues in development An opportunity to step back and think big.

- Understanding rural poverty ~ Development perspectives

- Major trends in development thinking. Managing sustainable and people-centered .development programs A visit to the field projects of IIRR, the focus is on how a participatory program framework is applied at the field level, in partnership with people's organizations.

- Program management approaches

- Issues and dilemmas in managing sustainable and people-centered development programs.

Managing a development organization Participants focus on problems faced by development organizations. They learn concepts and techniques to manage them Particular attention is given lo the experiences of participants, who typically have 5 to 15 years of experience in rural development management.

- Understanding development organizations

- Managing the resources of the organization

- Issues and dilemmas in managing a development organization

Training Approach

Lectures, group and individual exercises and field visits are used. Participants live in Philippine villages for a few days and learn from people's organizations. They observe the dynamics involved in managing a people-centered integrated approach to rural development.

It is conducted by professionals who have years of hands-on experience in dealing with rural people and in carrying out the types of projects that are discussed in the course.

Who should attend?

Participants come from government and nongovernment organizations and donor groups. Participants should be senior or mid-level managers with at least three years of experience in rural development programs They must be proficient in English and medically fit.

When and where?

The four-week course will be held from 4 to 29 August 1997,13 April to X May, 1998 and 3 to 2X August, 1998 at IIRR's headquarters in Silang, Cavite, Philippines Participants should arrive at llRR two days before the start of the course for recourse orientation. They will be met at the Manila international airport.

A Philippine visa is necessary for nationals of some countries; please check your requirements.

The llRR campus, a half hour's drive from Manila, is a self-contained training site. Facilities include air-conditioned training rooms, canteen, recreational facilities and participant dormitories. The 50-hectare campus features agricultural and gardening demonstration sites and a three-km nature trail.

Course fees

The course fee of US$2,500 covers training costs, local travel, materials, participants' food, lodging and medical insurance. It does not include international airfare nor out-of-pocket allowance.

Applicants arc encouraged to secure their own financial support from their organizations or donor agencies. A limited number of fellowships are available for qualified individuals. A pocket allowance of $300 is suggested for incidental and personal expenses.

Insurance

Participants are covered with an insurance package during their stay. Coverage may be extended should the participants avail of additional related course/s.

How to apply?

For more information and application forms write to: Mila Resma,Education and Training Division, IIRR , Silang4118,Cavite,Philippines. Tel./fax(63-46) 414 2423;Tel.(63-46)4142417 Fax(63-46)4142420 Email iirr@phil.gn.apc.org. IIRR, Rm.38, ElenaApts.,512 R Salas St., Ermita, Manila, Philippines. Tel(63-2)525 1284;524 1585 Fax (63-2) 522 2494 Cable IIRRINC MANILA IIRR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 1270, New York, NY10115,USA.Tel(212)8702992 Fax(212)8702981 Telex 238573 RRNYUR - Cable MEMINTCOM Email iirr@cce.cornell.edu.

International Course on Rural Development Management

A four-week course on practical management of rural development projects and organizations

Development management— The challenge

Managing a rural development organization is complex and challenging .

It is more complicated when programs arc designed IO be people-centered, participatory and sustainable Getting people to participate and getting development practitioners sensitive lo and capable of listening to village dwellers require special skills and approaches. This course provides participants tile opportunity to discuss people-centered development.

While it is built around IlRR's experiences of many years in people-centered development, the course provides opportunities for participants IO share their experiences and IO observe people's participation in practice.

International Institute of Rural Reconstruction

The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) is the outgrowth of a grass-roots development movement begun in 1920s in China Dr. Y. C James Yen and his colleagues evolved an integrated sustainable peoplecentered development approach that came to be known as "rural reconstruction. "

IIRR is based in the Philippines and has 30 years of experience working directly with the rural poor in the developing nations of Africa Asia and Latin America and with government and nongovernment organizations serving the poor

The Institute's programs focus on working with the rural poor as they transform then lives. The Institute works with the people rather than for them. It follows a bottom-up participatory approach to designing and implementing development programs.

Its mission is to share its rural development experiences and wisdom with rural development organizations and practitioners.

More than 4000 trainees from over 80 nations anti nearly 1300 organizations have attended training programs at IIRR The institute has fielded over a hundred technical assistance missions

Field relevance

IIRR is one of the few organizations offering development training that has its own field operations The core of the Institute's training programs is drawn from its own field work Training participants experience in the field what is discussed in the classroom. Course facilitators arc experienced rural development planners managers and workers directly involved in field operations.

97-321 Eg. ( April 1997)