Development Aid Funded Natural Resources Management Training in Thailand : Time to Rethink

Abstract

Although key agencies in the field of natural resources management do not have a comprehensive manpower development strategy, many staff will at some time attend development aid funded overseas degree level and post-graduate level courses, as well as overseas and in-country short-term courses. The last mentioned are becoming more and more popular with aid agencies and Thai counterparts although their effectiveness has never been established. The difficulties of assessing these are acknowledged and some subjective comments based on the author's experience are submitted. These relate to organization, the use of technical specialists, course content and language medium. Some comments on development aid training policy are also made and finally some suggestions are put forward whech if inplemented may contribute towards more effective manpower development strategies in the field of natural resources management. The existence of a sufficient quantity of skilled natural resource managers is without a doubt a key determinant of Thailand's successful sustainable development. Although manpower needs have never been formally quantified, the shortage is apparent and attempts to deal with this have already been implemented. Key agencies in the field of natural resources, rarely, if at all, have a comprehensive manpower development strategy, but nevertheless take advantage of opportunities to send dtaff to development aid funded overseas degree level and post-graduate level courses, as well as overseas and in-country short-term courses. The last mentioned are becoming more and more popular with aid agencies and Thai counterparts but their effectiveness has never been established. The business of assessing technical co-operation training activities is fraught with difficulty (Muscat, 1986) and perhaps this is why evaluation usually focuses on the direct or immediate project objectives using highly subjective self-completion questionnaires. Admittedly, it is difficult to find a satisfactory alternative means of assessment but this must not inhibit discourse among aid donors, the Thai government, technical experts, course organizers and course participants. Unless such discourse takes place aid foud and manpower are likely to remain inefficiently used and new and possibly more appropriate training initiatives are unlikely to be forthcoming. With regard to these training activities, I will restrict my comments to short-term in-country training programs as over the past few years I had some experience of these. After this some comments on development aid training policy will be made.