Institutional Development Programs
Human Capacity Development
Any effort to  reform
or upgrade an organization rests on the talents and
knowledge of the individuals who work for and manage
that organization. Training focused on improving an
individual's skills, judgment, and technical aptitude
is vital to the development of strong institutions in
the Middle East and North Africa. AMIDEAST offers workers,
students, educators, and professionals with much-needed
training in the areas of management, business, English
language training, and computer technology. With over
50 years of experience in the Middle East and North
Africa, AMIDEAST has the on-the-ground expertise needed
to develop human resource programs that enrich institutions–one
person at a time.
Sponsor: U.S. Agency for International Development
Duration: 1992–1998
Region: Morocco
Summary: Teacher training on how to keep young
Moroccan girls from leaving school
Challenge: Provide teachers with the means to
properly educate and retain girls in primary and secondary
school
Results: Helped reform
the national curricula; designed a well-structured program
in curriculum development, multi-grade teaching methodologies,
and gender-sensitive training techniques; established
partnerships with U.S. universities.
Overview: AMIDEAST cooperated with the Moroccan
Ministry of National Education to improve the skills
of hundreds of Moroccan educators and increase the retention
rate of girls in rural Moroccan schools. AMIDEAST provided
technical assistance, designed training programs, developed
tuition-support programs for both Moroccan and U.S.-based
training programs, and links were established between
U.S. and Moroccan institutions. AMIDEAST guided the
ministry in revising its existing school curricula and
conducting Training of Trainers (TOT) workshops for
educators. This was especially important in rural areas
where girls' education is in crisis. Teachers were also
offered English language training in the region and
at the graduate level at U.S. Universities
Sponsor: U.S. Agency for International Development
Region: West Bank and Gaza
Duration: 1994–1996
Summary: Management training and technical assistance
for the Palestinian Authority
Challenge: Upgrade and professionalize the ministries
in the Palestinian Authority
Results: Clarified overall government systems
and reduced duplication; improved managerial and institutional
capacity; established a transparent, accountable, merit-based
system of public sector management
Overview: The overall mission of AMIDEAST's
Institutional Development Project (IDP) in the West
Bank and Gaza was to provide assistance to core public
sector institutions within the Palestinian Authority
(PA), ensuring functional efficiency and public accountability.
AMIDEAST provided management consultation and development
assistance to strengthen the capacity of the PA to train
civil servants, reinforce the organizational structures
of civil and economic ministries, and improve the skills
of senior and mid-level managers. AMIDEAST prepared
a budget manual to unify the PA budgeting system. Ministries
were provided with advanced training on management,
planning, and computers.
Sponsor: U.S. Agency for International Development
(Development Training II Project)
Region: Egypt
Duration: 1999–2001
Summary: Professional management training for
Telecom Egypt's senior staff
Challenge: Equip a major public company with
the human resource skills necessary to compete globally
Results: Enhanced the skills of over 200 executives;
management training sections and other assistance helped
Telecom Egypt to successfully enter the international
marketplace
Overview: AMIDEAST designed and delivered management
development training for senior and mid-level managers
at Egypt's telecommunications company. Telecom Egypt
wished to bring up the managerial skills of its staff
to a level necessary to compete in the international
marketplace. The government company also wanted to make
critical changes to its corporate functions and management
structure. AMIDEAST taught performance-based management
concepts and skills using participatory training methods
and assessment tools. AMIDEAST brought in experts with
significant telecommunications experience, knowledge
of industry specific issues and executive level decision-making
techniques to train Telecom Egypt managers. AMIDEAST
advised Telecom Egypt on a variety of structural and
management practices that would allow the company to
function according to international business standards.
Sponsor: U.S. Agency for International Development
Region: Egypt
Duration: 1997–2003
Summary: English language training for Egyptian
Educators
Challenge: Integrate language training with
education of teachers curriculum
Results: Trained 15,000 professional Egyptian
English teachers, providing them with teaching materials.
Teachers were taken on a tour of U.S. schools and universities
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"The
project has laid the groundwork for a system that
can be sustained.
[AMIDEAST looks] at what is working, and what
is not, to respond to needs as they arise and
to advocate for changes that will improve the
quality of services."—Independent
Evaluation Team
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Overview: Quality English language instruction
is critical for students who wish to enter the English-based
global workforce. As a subcontractor for the Academy
for Educational Development, AMIDEAST provides Egyptian
English teachers with pre-service and in-service training.
Training consists of workshops and classes, U.S.-based
technical training, and tours of American schools and
universities. AMIDEAST is following up these services
by developing performance standards for teachers and
administrators, producing training products (including
a video series and a resource manual for primary educators),
and ensuring that all components of the improved in-service
system work correctly. The success of this effort prompted
U.S. Agency for International Development to extend
the program for an addition two years beyond its original
mandate. For more information on IELP II please click
here.
Sponsor: Government of the United Arab Emirates
Region: United Arab Emirates
Duration: 1996–2003
Summary: English language and computer training
facility for the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates
Challenge: Provide English language training
to all military personnel
Results: Built and equipped a modern instructional
facility; developed successful curriculum and hired
language teaching experts; trained thousands of personnel
in English language and computer skills
Overview: From 1996 to successful project completion
in 2003, AMIDEAST worked with the General Headquarters
of the UAE Armed Forces to design and manage a large,
fully computerized English language training facility
for officers and enlisted personnel. AMIDEAST consultants
worked closely with Emirati counterparts to provide
advisory and support services in institutional development,
program design and implementation, staff management,
and monitoring and evaluation. The program involved
the development of a comprehensive English language
curriculum, which featured online instruction in classrooms
and computer labs. AMIDEAST also recruited and supervised
a large academic staff of highly qualified language
teachers from around the region and the world. The facility
offered computer literacy courses, including use of
the Internet and email, to all UAE military personnel.
Sponsor: Future Generation Foundation
Region: Egypt
Duration: 2000–2001
Summary: Business education to Egyptian graduates
Challenge: Improve recent college graduates’
knowledge of business and the English language
Results: Nearly 2,000 recent university graduates
trained in business English and career development
Overview: AMIDEAST develops and teaches intensive
courses in business and English at universities in three
Egyptian cities: Cairo, Assiut, and Alexandria. Students
are taught business English and advanced employment
techniques. The BBSA program runs courses in job entry,
computers, teamwork, and other career development topics.
Each course is designed to help job seekers land a successful
career in today’s competitive marketplace.
Sponsor: U.S. Agency for International Development,
(Development Training II Project)
Region: Egypt
Duration: 2001–2002
Summary: Human Resources training for Egyptian
Ministry of Health
Challenge: Created targeted, specific trainings
on a variety of topics
Results: Numerous Ministry of Health members
trained in advanced human resource concerns
Overview: AMIDEAST developed nine training programs
in human resource management for Egypt's Ministry of
Health. AMIDEAST assessed areas where improvements were
necessary and designed specific training programs for
Ministry leaders and staff members. Topics included
manpower planning, job analysis, interviewing and hiring,
compensation, Egyptian labor law, training of trainers,
human resource policies, and information systems.
Sponsor: World Learning, U.S. Agency for International
Development
Region: Yemen
Duration: 1996–2000
Summary: Training programs for the public and
private service sectors
Challenge: Design and implement training programs
for a diverse range of professional service providers
Results: Hundreds of teachers trained to address
the educational needs of girls; improved the knowledge
and skills of women health experts; key organizations
and ministries are now using professional practices
and modern methodologies
Overview: AMIDEAST helped to improve the capacity
of key public and private Yemeni institutions involved
in the fields of education and health. The short-term
training programs were designed to improve the skills
of professionals. The education of in-country trainers
ensured that the program would continue to have an impact
in the future. Programs were designed to assist community
midwife and female service providers, Ministry of Health
trainers and administrators, school principals and teachers
of classes for girls at the Ministry of Education, trainers
and policy makers at the National Institute for Administrative
Sciences, and managers of some 200 prominent Yemeni
NGOs.
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