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quality. Training of staff (both in-country and in the US) would be encouraged as the most
certain method of assuring long-term improvements. STTA would expect to spend no less than
two months in Zambia each year. Additional time would be spent in the US designing
specialized training programs as needed.
Benefits: Improved data and improved working relationship between the project staff and the
data collection officials. This kind of technical input could be particularly beneficial if the
STTA is allowed to work closely with the CSO and/or the MAFF staff to gain their
confidence and cooperation. As travel and training opportunities are realized, interaction
between UW and Zambia professionals would be strengthened, offering possibilities for future
collaboration.
(4) Long-term TA (LTTA) to work with the CSO in completely rethinking the data system. There
is evidence that the system needs major structural changes if it is to satisfy the needs of future
data users. While new technologies such as GIS, remote sensing, and area frames may offer
efficiencies and improved accuracy, there are many areas in which incremental changes would
be beneficial to the organization. A resident LTTA would be able to influence major changes
in design and methods that a STTA may not have the clout to accomplish. However, STTAs
would be important for specialized training and statistical design needs.
Benefits: With sufficient funding, the CSO and the MAFF could collaborate in building an
agricultural data system that uses cost-effective and efficient surveys to provide timely and
accurate data.
Any project delivering STTA and LTTA should emphasize transfer of knowledge to local
personnel. As obvious as this sounds, according to CSO officials, some TA personnel have
perpetuated their employment by doing the work themselves. Some have failed to produce technical
notes about survey methods despite remaining in Zambian organizations for years. Despite these
reservations, the CSO nevertheless welcomes STTA and LTTA. From the perspective of the authors,
such problems of confidence and transfer of knowledge are best encountered through projects
emphasizing long-term institutional collaboration and commitment (e.g., options (3) and (4) above).
Improvement of staff performance is key to raising the quality of agricultural data in Zambia.
By offering training opportunities to the staff, both productivity and accuracy will rise as they learn
new procedures and experience higher morale. Some of the statistical training programs available are
summarized below:
ISPC, Bureau of Census offers focused training in several areas of statistics, survey
management, and computer analysis. Courses are usually 12 months in length. ISPC training is
expensive, but courses impart valuable practical training on what is needed to manage an agricultural
data system.
OICD/USDA contracts with governmental agencies and universities to provide specialty
training of 2 to 8 weeks in length. Each year OICD offers several 2- to 6-week courses in agricultural
statistics and computer usage. The impression is that the courses are somewhat limited in scope and
the contractors have fairly rigid programs with limited latitude for adapting materials to specific
country needs.