PNDS has launched a mobile training program, to ensure district based staff have the skills to support their communities.
A CNEFP trainer works with a PNDS technical facilitator to check a water tap. The community will build another 10 taps like this one.
Women working on the rehabilitation of a community road, one of the project sites the mobile training team visited in Pante Macassar, Oecusse.
Construction training experts travel to remote areas of Timor to mentor sub-district based PNDS staff in construction techniques and double-check the quality of the projects. The sub-district technical facilitators are the focus of the first round of mobile training, organised by the Government of Timor Leste, working with advisors from Australian Aid.
Sub-district technical facilitators assist communities to decide what infrastructure they need. They help their communities to construct the project themselves (without the use of contractors), including working with them on proposals, designs, budgets and procurement. They also train members of the Community Management Team in design and construction, and assist with the training of work teams.
Providing advice on the best way to mix concrete.
Centro Nacional de Emprego e Formação Profissional (CNEFP) Tibar Training Centre was contracted to provide initial training to the technical facilitators when they joined PNDS in 2013. The mobile training follows up and builds on this, providing practical training and mentoring in the field.
The training will ensure PNDS staff are confident in guiding community construction of small infrastructure projects, and continue to increase their skills and knowledge.
In December (2014), two trainers from CNEFP travelled to Pante Macassar, Oecusse, to work with local PNDS staff for a week.
The trainers inspected projects with the technical facilitators, including a local road and water system, and assisted with some technical know-how on the water system.
Mobile training teams have already visited PNDS staff on site in Ainaro, Manufahi, Manatuto, Baucau, Viqueque, Oecussi, Covalima disitricts. Currently, the training is being provided to areas completing phase 1 projects, in the future all sub-district facilitators will receive visits from the team.
In 2013, working with Timorese training organisations, Australian Aid trained over 400 people to work as sub-district staff for PNDS.
