Annexe 3 MSBP Training Strategy The MSBP training programme: Building capacity to collect, conserve and manage ex situ seed collections. Updated Jan 2006 Introduction Combining partner’s knowledge of their native floras with the seed conservation skills gained over more than 30 years by RBG Kew's Seed Conservation Department (SCD) is the essence of the Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP). Capacity building activities, including training, infrastructure improvements, collaborative research and information sharing, are key to achieving the seed conservation aims of the project and are valued by MSBP partners as important benefits enshrined within the Access and Benefit Sharing Agreements. The present strategy document has been developed in order to establish clear priorities that will facilitate forward planning of the training programme within the project’s capacity-building activities. It should be read in conjunction with the Communications (dissemination) Strategy. Definitions In the context of the MSBP, capacity may be defined as: the ability of individuals, groups, organisations and institutions to address and manage seed conservation problems. Capacity building is the process of creating, developing, strengthening, enhancing, improving or upgrading the capability of individuals, institutions and national systems to address and manage seed conservation problems. Seed conservation is the collection, conservation and management of ex situ seed collections. The training programme is one way in which the MSBP seeks to build capacity. Infrastructure improvements, collaborative research, and information sharing activities are other key means by which the project is building partners capacity to address and manage seed conservation problems. External context The training and other capacity building activities of the project are situated within an external context in which the following international agreements and/or trends are of particular relevance: Convention on Biological Diversity RBG Kew and the MSBP are determined to honour the letter and spirit of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the first global, comprehensive agreement to address all aspects of biological diversity: genetic resources, species, and ecosystems. The convention recognises that the conservation of biological diversity is “a common concern of humankind” and of utmost importance in community development. The objectives of CBD are “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.” To achieve its objectives, the Convention in accordance with the spirit of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development seeks to promote a renewed partnership among countries based on scientific and technical co-operation, access to genetic resources, and the transfer of environmentally sound technologies. The concern of many countries to control access to, and the use of, their national genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge is reflected directly in the formulation of the CBD, which in turn has a clear impact on the ways in which the MSBP works internationally. The need for prior informed consent and the imperative of sharing benefits with its partners fairly and equitably is respected. CBD Articles 12 (Research and Training) and 18 (Technical and Scientific Cooperation) are of particular relevance to the MSBP training activities: Article 12. The Contracting Parties, taking into account the special needs of developing countries, shall: (a) Establish and maintain programmes for scientific and technical education and training in measures for the identification, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and its components and provide support for such education and training for the specific needs of developing countries; Article 18. Paragraph 2. Each Contracting Party shall promote technical and scientific cooperation with other Contracting Parties, in particular developing countries, in implementing this Convention, inter alia, through the development and implementation of national policies. In promoting such cooperation, special attention should be given to the development and strengthening of national capabilities, by means of human resources development and institution building. The CBD’s Global Strategy for Plant Conservation includes the following target: 15. The number of trained people working with appropriate facilities in plant conservation increased, according to national needs, to achieve the targets of this Strategy1 There have been numerous CBD decisions on capacity building2, including those specifically relating to training activities within the dry and sub-humid lands3 and Agricultural Biodiversity4 thematic work programmes. The Global Plan of Action (GPA) for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) The GPA5 presents an agreed comprehensive agenda for action for the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA6, comprising 20 priority actions, including “Expanding and Improving Education and Training” (Action 19). The 1999 Progress Report on the Implementation of the Global Plan of Action7 stated that “training remains a pressing need” while the 2001 Progress Report8 concludes that “in many developing countries, the level of availability of advanced-level training opportunities, or even short-term training, is still low”. Millennium Development Goals, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, World Summit on Sustainable Development There is growing awareness that many of the issues relating to the conservation of plant and animal diversity in the most biodiverse regions of the world cannot be addressed effectively without also addressing the concerns of the communities living in those areas. Kew is increasingly engaged in programmes that also have a social dimension and connect to broader efforts to improve the lives of poor people in different parts of the world. Through capacity building Kew and the MSBP are contributing to the international effort to provide long term solutions to issues of poverty and subsistence for some of the world’s poorest people. Institutional context The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew The mission of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is: 1 See Decision VI/9, Annex GLOBAL STRATEGY FOR PLANT CONSERVATION, sub-objective e, target xv. http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.asp?lg=0&m=cop-06&d=09 2 See Table 2 in http://www.gefweb.org/Documents/Council_Documents/GEF_C17/C.17.6.Rev1.pdf 3 See Decision V/23 Draft Programme Activity 7(i) http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.asp?lg=0&m=cop-05&d=23 4 See Decision V/5 (9), Programme Element 3 http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.asp?lg=0&m=cop-05&d=05 5 See http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPS/Pgrfa/Pdf/GPAENG.PDF Defined in the International Treaty on PGRFA as “genetic material of plant origin of actual or potential value for food and agriculture” PGRFA clearly includes the Economic plants prioritised by the MSBP’s three ‘E’s. 6 7 8 See ftp://ext-ftp.fao.org/waicent/pub/cgrfa8/8-3-e.pdf See http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/FAOINFO/AGRICULT/AGP/AGPS/pgr/ITWG/pdf/P1W2E.pdf "To ensure better management of the Earth's environment by increasing knowledge and understanding of the plant and fungal kingdoms - the basis of life on earth". This mission is achieved through sustained, long-term partnerships, strengthened by capacity building activities designed to enhance the scientific, technical and institutional capacity of collaborators to carry out research in plant diversity and apply the results in programmes focusing on the conservation and sustainable utilisation of their indigenous plant resources. Mechanisms include: provision of identification services; the supply of key literature and type images; one-to-one training of overseas scientists, and intensive diploma courses delivered by Kew staff – both at Kew and abroad. The MSBP training programme contributes towards the 4th of Kew’s primary business aims: Support Kew’s own activities, and those of policy makers and collaborators in the UK and overseas, in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, through partnerships, capacity building, joint research, training and advice. Kew’s last Science Audit9 noted that future capacity building activities must be aligned with “Kew's main systematic, geographic and biome spheres of operation”. The training activities of the MSBP focus on the worlds Drylands, a priority area for Kew. Drylands cover a third of the Earth’s land surface and support over a billion people. It is vital to support overseas collaborators in such areas in order to reduce land degradation and maximise the potential of plant diversity for poverty alleviation. The UK and the EU are the other main beneficiaries of the MSBP training programme. Seed Conservation Department The Seed Conservation Department of Kew has a long history of training and capacity building. The department designed and delivered courses on Seed Technology for Gene Banks for IPGRI (then IBPGR) in 1984 and 1986. 2 training workshops on Recent Advances in Seed Conservation were held in Nairobi in 1997 and 1999 as part of the National Museums of Kenya-Darwin plant conservation training for East Africa project. SCD staff teach on the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and a one-week module on seed banking is offered as part of the Kew International Diploma in Plant Conservation Strategies. Staff have considerable experience of supervising PhD and MSc student projects and have contributed a unit on seed conservation and genebank management to the Birmingham University MSc in Conservation and Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources since the late 1980's. More recently, the department has provided a week-long residential taught course on Seed Banking together with research project supervision to the University of Sussex MSc in Plant Conservation (Seed Banking). Staff members also provide teaching and research supervision to the Cryobiology (Cryopreservation and Conservation) MSc run by the University of Luton. The Millennium Seed Bank Project (MSBP) The MSBP aims to put in place a leading worldwide seed conservation network, capable of safeguarding targeted wild plant species and contributing to global conservation targets. To date, CBD compliant Access and Benefit Sharing Agreements have been signed with 45 institutions in 18 countries. The project partnerships vary in their structure and scope but all aim to collect and conserve seeds and strengthen in-country capacity for seed banking. In addition, the Donations Programme works with other collaborators who wish to use the MSB’s long-term storage facilities for the conservation of seed collections from other parts of the world. These collaborations also give rise to training activities. Output 4 (‘Technology transfer’) of the MSBP aims to: facilitate the adoption of best practice seed conservation technology internally and by project partners and to make best practice seed conservation technology accessible to the wider scientific community. This will be achieved through the following activities: 4.1 Designing/sourcing, supplying and commissioning new equipment and facilities 4.2 Developing and maintaining the Seed Information Database 4.3 Providing a coordinated response to scientific and technical enquiries from project partners and the wider scientific community. 9 http://web/DIRECTORATE/sciaudit/Volume%202%20SCIENCE%20PROGRAMMES/ 4.4 4.5 Designing and delivering appropriate training and capacity building support internally, to project partners and to other targeted groups. Preparing and delivering contribitions to scientific publications, lectures, seminars and conferences. Objective of the MSBP training programme Assess the training needs of international partners and collaborators and coordinate, deliver and evaluate appropriate training that integrates with other internal and external conservation training initiatives. eg. Kew’s International Diplomas, Birmingham CUPGR MSc, Sussex University MSc, IPGRI Training Programmes and relevant university courses in partner countries. Priorities Decisions about specific training activities are guided by a) partners and collaborators needs and b) project needs. Often these will coincide, but it may be that partners and collaborators have wider training needs not directly related to project activities, or that Kew-based project staff develop training activities not necessarily oriented towards partners or collaborators. The immediate priority of the training programme will be to build capacity of partners to fulfil their agreed contributions to the seed collection and conservation aims of the MSBP. This training will mostly be aimed at project staff collecting and conserving seeds. As well as this sort of foundation training, a higher level of training is envisaged for a very much smaller number of people in each partner country. In this way the long-term prospects of the project will be enhanced, through the creation of some in-country experts.10 At this level, training needs are likely to be concerned with wider issues of biodiversity conservation as well as seed conservation. At a higher level still, the MSBP training programme will seek wider impact and long term sustainability by supporting existing or developing national and regional training initiatives. In addition to meeting the training needs of partners and collaborators, the MSBP training programme will continue to support Kew’s International Diplomas, and the Birmingham, Sussex and Luton University MSc. Courses. Other strategic questions: Training of technical staff or training of trainers? see T:\SCD.WKG\Departmental\MSB Phase III\Baseline Documents\MSBP Measures by Milestones.doc 10 At present, formal “train the trainer” type training is not envisaged. However, all trainees are expected to transmit the knowledge and skills they gain, either formally or informally. Technical staff will be trained as a matter of immediate priority, whilst those staff selected for higher level training will be particularly well-placed and well equipped to train others. Such training will have a direct impact on conservation practices and will build capacity for managers to educate and train their own technical staff and others. Short, intensive courses organised around specific topics or longer-term courses? Again, this is a balance between immediate needs and longer-term sustainability. The early stages of an MSBP partnership or collaboration are more likely to involve short, intensive courses, but as the relationship develops it is more likely that opportunities to support longer term in-country and regional initiatives, will arise. Emphasis on in-country or WTMB-based training? Whilst in-country training is perhaps the most cost effective way to transfer skills to the widest number of participants, it has to be recognised that partners particularly value the experience of visiting the WTMB. Benefits of incountry training include cost, use of local expertise, use of local species and habitats for practical training. On the other hand, visits to the WTMB exposes partners to ‘state-of-the-art’ techniques and expertise, and enables them to establish contacts with the rest of RBG Kew and other UK-based plant conservation institutions. They will also often be able to share experiences and skills with other MSBP partners and collaborators. How does the MSBP training programme integrate with the rest of Kew’s training and capacity-building activities? Apart from the courses and activities co-ordinated by the Higher Education team, capacity building outputs are now required elements of all Kew projects. As a result, there is likely to be increased co-ordination between departments with respect to needs assessment, planning, delivery and subsequent evaluation of training. Within the MSBP, partners wider training needs will often be met by other Kew departments, for instance through attendance of the International diploma courses, or attachments to the herbarium or Jodrell laboratory. Will the MSBP adopt distance learning and Web-based training initiatives? This is not a high priority at present. Such training methods would not easily impact on the seed collection activities nor, due to technical, financial and time limitations, are they appropriate for many MSBP partners. However, their use by other parts of Kew, or other institutions offering biodiversity-related training will be monitored. Training Needs Assessment The Training Needs Assessment (TNA) is an essential stage in the training process. In helping to identify existing gaps in knowledge and skills it will enable us to better plan training to meet partner’s priorities and needs, and also to identify who should (and who should not) participate in specific courses or workshops. It is also essential as a baseline for any future evaluation/impact assessment of the MSBP training programme. Carried out in a participatory, consultative manner, TNA should aim to motivate potential participants, and promote partners ‘ownership’ of the training programme. Training needs will be identified as part of a logical project development process; training will be clearly linked to agreed project activities, and to staff with identified project responsibilities. It is important that a training needs assessment be carried out as part of the pre-project activities in order that any immediate training needs can be addressed before any collecting missions take place. TNA will be carried out as follows: a) immediate priority/short term project needs Baseline documents of the MSBP state that: “The collecting targets agreed between the Partners are undertaken with an appropriate level of expertise”.11 This requires an agreed definition of what is an “appropriate level of expertise” and an assessment of the level of expertise (of project personnel) in each partner organisation. After discussion with the International Co-ordinators, and using the Field Manual of Seed Collecting as a guide, a checklist of knowledge/skills against which the existing expertise of partner staff can be assessed was drawn up and is completed by partners during project development discussions. This checklist may also be used to re-assess training needs during the course of a project. If thought appropriate, this informal assessment may be supported by individual and group exercises designed to assess technical knowledge and specific skills of scientists/technicians. A participatory TNA workshop session has been developed which could be used as part of a project development workshop. Existing or previous training activities should also be reviewed. Information can be obtained via interviews with key persons, library/internet research, or possibly as part of a group workshop, and should include: 11 the availability and location of existing (or past) training programmes, courses, manuals etc the depth of experience of those currently involved in delivering training the purpose of existing training programmes and the target groups they cater for the effectiveness of existing training programmes in meeting the needs of participants see T:\SCD.WKG\Departmental\MSB Phase III\Baseline Documents\MSBP Measures by Milestones.doc the features of existing (or past) training programmes that were effective in building capacity the numbers of people who have participated in existing training programmes the costs, funding sources etc. of existing programmes b) to meet medium-term/wider priorities Training needs assessment for this level of capacity building should be based on partner’s organisational plans/strategies (if they exist). In some cases training needs may have already been identified. If such documents are not available, national biodiversity strategies and action plans may provide a list of identified training needs. c) Long term The GEF Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) made a broad assessment of capacity building needs relating to a) Biodiversity, b) Climate Change and c) Desertification. In relation to implementation of the CBD, “ex situ conservation of both wild and domestic biodiversity (botanical gardens, zoos, gene banks)” was highlighted as a priority concern common across countries and regions. PGR Conservation training needs have been identified by FAO12 and ISNAR/SGRP/PGRI13 and many actions are underway14. Training Activities A variety of training options are offered, ranging from informal hands-on technical training, formal courses such as the Seed Conservation Techniques course, in-country training courses and workshops and support to postgraduate training. A set of Powerpoint presentations, background reading materials and practical exercises designed to be lifted out and used on or off site, to meet specific training needs, has been developed to support the project’s training activities. Some of these materials are also available in French and Spanish. a) Short term Immediate priority/short term project needs are most effectively met by incountry training courses and workshops, joint collecting missions and informal technical training at WTMB. Training courses, delivered by SCD staff, and key resource persons from partner countries, provide practical-based training on seed conservation for MSBP partners and other invited participants. Fourth International Technical Conference on Plant Genetic Resources; State of the World’s Plant genetic Resources; 13 See http://www.sgrp.cgiar.org/1998activities-training.html and http://www.sgrp.cgiar.org/1999activities-capacitybuildin.html 14 See FAO (….) Inventory of ongoing activities and instruments for agricultural biodiversity at the international level http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/docs/html/DPlant-e.htm#training ; UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA (2000) Agricultural biological diversity: assessment of ongoing activities and instruments.UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/inf/10. http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meetings/sbstta/sbstta05/information/sbstta-05-inf-10-en.pdf 12 In the early stages of a project joint collecting missions provide a good opportunity for SCD staff to train technical staff on seed collecting and field processing skills; they also allow the re-enforcement of skills learnt on training courses. Technical staff visiting the WTMB for on-the-job training usually arrive after collecting expeditions have taken place in their home countries. The main training objective is to develop seed processing and testing skills through practical experience of working on collections relevant to their own projects. Trainees work closely with the Curation Section. b) medium term Appropriate training to meet medium-term/wider priorities might include participation in the Kew International Diploma in Plant Conservation Strategies, the Seed Conservation Techniques course, an appropriate MSc. Course, or a research attachment at WTMB. The RBG Kew International Diploma in Plant Conservation Strategies (PCS) is a biennial eight-week residential course hosted jointly by RBG Kew’s Higher Education team and the Seed Conservation Department. The full course, leading to the award of the International Diploma in Plant Conservation Strategies, comprises a four-week module based at RBG Kew covering general aspects of plant conservation, a one-week introductory module on seed conservation based at WTMB, followed by a 3-week project. MSBP partners have the option to attend the full course leading to the International Diploma or alternatively may opt for a four week Certificate in Seed Conservation Techniques, which would involve the one week introductory module on seed conservation plus additional modules focussing on seed conservation practice. A three-week certificate course in Seed Conservation Techniques (SCT) is offered in those years when the PCS is not being run. The SCT course targets graduate scientists and professionals directly involved in seed conservation programmes. The main focus is to educate trainees on the practical implications of recent advances in seed biology. Participation in this course may be followed by a further period of technical training at WTMB tailored to specific needs of individuals. For some MSBP partner institutions there may be a need for post-graduate training for certain key staff. These will be graduate scientists expected to play or already playing a significant role in the MSBP partnership. The policy of the MSBP is to utilise relevant MSc and PhD programmes running at local or regional universities, with a research attachment at WTMB incorporated as part of the programme. PhD applications are considered and endorsed by the SCD Student Steering Committee before MSBP funding is made available. c) long term The most appropriate way for SCD to address training needs at this level is through strategic partnerships. This will involve other departments within Kew and will require building upon existing links and forging new ones with conservation/PGR/development networks within a broader framework of managing drylands plant genetic resources. Kew’s Corporate Plan identifies capacity building and education and the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity as major areas of collaboration with other organisations. These successes should be built upon, whilst at the same time ensuring that SCD is differentiated from similar institutions, and that its contribution is distinctive and complementary to the work of others. The new collaboration with FAO will provide opportunities to learn lessons about these issues. As well as direct involvement of SCD staff in such initiatives, a key aim will be to support national or regional staff (often the same people who will have benefited from earlier MSBP training) through provision of training materials, advice, research attachments at WTMB etc. For example, MSBP partner staff in Kenya have contributed to curriculum development and provide teaching on an undergraduate diploma in Plant Genetic Resources Conservation and Utilisation at Maseno University. There are many potential partner organisations or networks already involved in training and capacity building in PGR and/or plant conservation, including FAO, IPGRI, ISNAR, GTZ etc. Contact will be made/maintained with the main institutions, programmes and networks operating in regions where MSBP activities are planned. Monitoring and evaluation Kew’s last Science Audit noted that future capacity building activities must be “carefully documented” in order to allow Kew staff to learn from the experiences and facilitate the use of capacity building activities and products as currency in future benefit-sharing agreements negotiated with our collaborators. The MSBP training programme critically reviews its activities in order to continually improve the training provided to partners, promote accountability and aid future fundraising. MSBP partners are also encouraged to think about how they are going to assess whether their national capacity has been strengthened. A typical 4-level approach to evaluation is used. Data and information is obtained on: trainees perceptions of various aspects of the training (REACTION) the knowledge and skills acquired by trainees (LEARNING) how the acquired knowledge and skills are applied by trainees (APPLICATION) what the outcomes/impact of applying the acquired skills and knowledge are (OUTCOME). Testing immediate reaction to a particular training event is straightforward. Standard evaluation forms for training courses and technical/research attachments have been developed. Methods of measuring at subsequent levels may vary: How to test what knowledge and skills have been learnt? The PCS course has an exam, project and viva. Technical attachments currently have no assessment. The Mexico training course used “3 minute exams” to assess the effectiveness of the course. Participants were given 3 minutes for each session and asked to list the key elements of that particular topic. The SCT course include a short written assessment, including multichoice and fill-in-the blank type questions. The type of “test” depends on the training activity and the level of the participants. Written tests may not be the most appropriate for technical staff on practical training attachments. Tests and exams may be inappropriate for senior, well-educated, professionally expert, and very experienced staff. Suitable “tests” for such people could include the drawing up of action plans, drawing up group projects which pool their expertise with what they have learnt. How to monitor the application of the acquired knowledge and skills? Informal reports from participants eg Kew’s on-COURSE newsletter, reports in Samara MSBP staff visiting participants to see how they are doing. Formalised follow up with participants and/or their managers. Monitoring implementation of action plans Formalised follow up questionnaires do not always fulfil objectives, mainly because of low response rates. We need to develop ways of making it easier for participants to record concretely how MSBP training has been useful to them, and how it might have been even more useful. How to monitor what the outcomes of applying the acquired skills and knowledge are? The recent MSBP log-frame exercise identified the following indicators that will provide a measure of the real impact of the project’s technology transfer activities. (It would be difficult, and probably not cost-effective, to try to separate the impact of training activities from the provision of equipment, facilities and information in facilitating technology transfer). 100% of new or improved seed conservation methods developed by science and technology programme adopted by SCD and/or partners. Increased % of cleaned and germinated collections received from partners Increase in trainee days provided by MSB-trained partner staff M+E forms A number of different forms have been developed, and need to be revised, and integrated where necessary. These include: Form Use TNA checklist for evaluation Plan training, baseline Visitor interests table Plan residential visits Visitor feedback visitors Assess immediate reaction of Training plan Guide the delivery and evaluation of training Training course evaluation form trainees. Assess immediate reaction of Fundraising Although a significant part of the MSBP budget is dedicated to training activities, these correspond in the main to satisfying immediate, projectrelated needs, and funding for the PCS/SCT course. The budget does not include funding for the medium-long term capacity building activities discussed above, and it will be necessary to source external funds to support these activities. It is thought that it should be possible to access corporate sponsorship for certain items, for example, individual studentships for the PCS/SCT course etc. The training manager, the international co-ordinators and the Foundation co-ordinate fundraising as necessary. The British Council may be a source of support for in-country training workshops or for studentships. Commonwealth Professional Fellowships have allowed a number of research attachments.