The Korea Institute for Development Strategy (KDS) successfully completed the graduation ceremony of an invitation training program(DR Congo Capacity development of NAEC management staff training program in Korea), as a part of the project of ‘Capacity Development of the National Agricultural Extension Center(NAEC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, funded by a bilateral grant from the Republic of Korea through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in September 22nd, 2022. The ceremony took place in Canaan Global Leadership Center at Canaan Farmers School, Wonju.
The training program invites NAEC(National Agricultural Extension Center) management staffs and officers who are in charge of agricultural policy and budget in DR Congo. Goals of the training program are as following; 1) Mindset development of NAEC staffs and relevant officers 2) Training capacity development of NAEC staff and relevant officers 3) Mission and vision building of NAEC 4) Action plan development for securing the budget of NAEC.
Trainees are highly satisfied with the institute’s strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols, considering the fact that the training program is delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, KDS has successfully completed three cases of training programs with Canaan Global Leadership center, a consortium institute. Those are 1) Capacity development program administrative training in Korea(2018, 2 weeks), 2) Training program of lecturer candidates in Uganda for NAEC (2019, a month), 3) Capacity development of NAEC lectures training program in Korea(2019. a month). This training program is the last one before the end of the project which is significant in terms of addressing sustainability of NAEC.
12 trainees who had completed the course for two weeks(September 10th – September 22nd) attended the ceremony. In addition, 20 key stakeholders including KOICA department of West Africa(Jang Seo Hee, head of the department), KDS(Park Kyung Bae, vice president), project manager(Ph. D. Kwon Oh Kyung), and Canaan(prof. Kim Jang Saeng, vice president) participated in the ceremony in order to encourage the trainees.
Jang Seo Hee, a head of KOICA department of West Africa shared commencement speech that “I hope what you’ve learned and experienced through training has broadened your knowledge and perspective. Make an effort to pursue sustainability of NAEC with a high level of maintenance and operation even after the project.”
Corresponding to the commencement speech, as a representative of trainees, Mrs. Lutual Lucianne, a head of NAEC, responded “We’re committed to continue making a difference with the sustainable NAEC activity.”
KDS has been working on the project, Capacity Development of the National Agricultural Extension Center(NAEC) in the Democratic Republic of Congo, since December, 2016. It aims at increasing agricultural productivity through foundation setup for agricultural extension service in DRC, focusing on 1) Establishment of NAEC 2) Independent operation of NAEC 3) Training agricultural leaders and trainees 4) Expanding project’s impact through technology dissemination pilot project. KDS is in charge of project management, attentively considering the status of fragile states in multiple aspects. Kwon Oh Kyung(Project Manager), Park Sang Min(Project Assistance Officer), Park Eun Been(Project Management Officer) are responsible for planning and implementing of overall project, project management and performance management.
