New project in communications skills

A proiect is underway in Kenya to train agricultural extension workers in communications skills and thus support the Kenyan Governments efforts to boost the effectiveness of the national extension services (see SPORE 23 'Communicating with clarity'). Financed partly by the Government of Kenya and partly by the ODA (Overseas Development Administration) through the BDDEA (British Development Division in Eastern Africa), this project aims to strengthen the agricultural extension services by providing more and better communications skills training for extension workers. This will be done by assisting the Agricultural Information Centre (AIC) to produce a multi-media training package for use by trainers of extension workers and agtricultural staff. The development of this package will be based largely on the recommendations of a feasibility study undertaken in l987 by the BBC Open University Production Centre (Milton Keynes, UK) which was financed by CTA. The total cost of inputs over three years 1S estimated at UKL487,000. Under the project a multi-media 'train the trainers' package will be produced which will enable a much greater number of extension workers to be better trained in basic communication skills than would be possible by existing conventional means. ODA will provide funding for a full-time project coordinator under Technical Cooperation arrangements to develop and test the package and advise on implementation. It will also finance short-term inputs from the Open University to help AIC produce the multi-media package and will meet the package production costs. AIC staff will be able to visit the UK to train in editing, production of commentaries and sound dubbing. Computer equipment and spares for desk-top publishing and print production and supporting AV training equipment will be provided - as well as short in country training courses for AIC staff in the use of computer equipment. The Kenyan Government and AIC will provide qualified staff and equipment and local costs of transport and fuel for filming translation and secretarial services. British Development Division in Eastern Africa PO Box 30465 Nairobi- KENYAA proiect is underway in Kenya to train agricultural extension workers in communications skills and thus support the Kenyan Governments efforts to boost the effectiveness of the national extension services (see SPORE 23 'Communicating with..