The Palestinian NGO's Network (PNGO), on Thursday, concluded a training program on the " Observing Change Results based Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting " following four consecutive training workshops conducted as a part of project to strengthen democracy and build the capacity of the Palestinian NGOs, carried out in partnership with Norwegian People's Aid (NPA).
The workshop involved 80 male and female NGOs employees working in the field of projects management and coordination. The participants were divided into four groups (20 participants / per group). The overall training duration was 40 hours; (10 hours /per group, 2 days /per group).
The workshops aimed to increase knowledge and polish the skills of participants , to enable them improve and implement projects and programs that focus on change and development of the various segments of the society.
They also aimed to explain community participation methods, facilitate the understanding of the theory of change and the human rights based approach. Moreover, they aimed to enrich the trainees with results drafting skills, results achieving observation skills, results-based reports writing skills.
Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGO's Network, said "the training workshops held in the context of the network's efforts to enhance NGO's role in the Palestinian society, and build the capacity of NGO's both male and female employees and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills needed to enable them develop the organizations they work in and improve services they provide to the target groups.''
Shawa pointed out such kind of activities are significant and essential part of PNGO network's policy to empower the Palestinian NGOs and enrich their employees with experiences, knowledge and skills to enable them turn the acquired knowledge and skills into successful and effective actions.
Dr. Saied Abu Jalala, workshop trainer, said "the training workshops participated in clarifying the theory of change and the human rights based approach for the trainees of both genders, and improving their skills formulating results, monitoring, and report based results.
He noted that there were an effective interaction between the participants especially after acquiring new knowledge and skills related to results management; which changed their attitudes regarding objects-based management to results-base management.
Abu Jalala stressed that even their understanding to the concept of the project changed, since they became more aware of the project concept and more focused on achieving results and more able to manage risks related to project management. In addition they were more able to develop monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the achievement of results within the allocated budget and schedule.
The trainer stressed that the beneficiaries of services are rights holders according to the Palestinian laws and the international conventions, so we should be more convinced to work hard to change the system; which is to make changes in the society's attitudes and changes in customs and traditions as well as the strategic policies of the official institutions and change of laws, legislations and developing the needed budgets to make the change.
At the end of the training workshops, the participants stressed the importance of the workshops subject which enriched them with new concepts in the field of projects management, which in turn reflects on the services provided for individuals in particular and the society in general. According to the participants, the workshops contributed so far to their understanding of the concept of change and results-based management and improved their performance since most of donors now focus on the results-based management.
The participants expressed a wish that the Palestinian NGO's Network implement another such training workshop on the same subject to last for longer, to enjoy another opportunity to do a practical work of what they learnt theoretically. According to the participants, the training material was informative with information, concepts, and real-life examples.
As all trainees praised the efficiency of the trainer (d. Said Abu Jalala) ,his solid experience in this field and high ability to simplify things and information through examples and models.
The trainees then expressed gratitude and thanked PNGO for its permanent concern for developing the capacities of NGOs.
They expressed a hope to attend another such training workshop to be updated with changes and meet the needs of the organizations, by improving the skills of its employees and enriching them with new skills and knowledge.