In line with its mandate, the SDPI Center for Capacity Building (CCB) provides high quality training to the public, private and NGO sector organizations and individuals to strengthen institutions and build capacity for sustainable development. During July and August, CCB conducted the following trainings:
Financial management is an essential element of an organization’s structure and sustainability. Although financial managers have the required skills to manage finances, some non-financial managers, such as project managers, supervisors of core units and administrative personnel, lack the necessary knowledge to plan and manage financial resources.
The workshop covered accounting principles, tools, financial concepts, financial techniques and financial statements. It included an overview of analysis techniques of financial instruments and statements.
The workshop objectives were to:
Evaluating employee performance is a key responsibility of managers. Performance appraisals, a powerful tool, provide documented feedback on an employee's level of performance. They help determine continued employment, promotion, transfer, bonuses, and pay raises, and allow for improved communications between managers and employees. The actual performance-appraisal documents become part of an employee's permanent record and can greatly influence lives and careers.
A poorly-managed evaluation system can be used against an employer in court. Managers must recognize the potential ramifications of failing to adequately manage employees' performance. They must be ready, willing, and able to communicate clear expectations, provide support to achieve those expectations, and develop and professionally present a factual and well-documented performance evaluation to ensure the effectiveness of their review process and to safeguard the company/organization from legal liability.
The aim of this training was to assist supervisors to understand how to properly manage and document the performance of those who report to them for employee motivation, performance, and productivity. The specific objectives were to enable the participants to:
SDPI’s Centre for Capacity Building (CCB) organized a three-day training workshop on Leadership Skills for women: Conflict Management and Negotiation styles.
Despite significant awareness on the role of women in governance and civil society, Pakistani women continue to struggle for empowerment. The workshop aimed at building confidence and leadership skills fundamental to women’s empowerment and obtaining a more equitable role in Pakistan. The training defined critical elements of leadership for working women. It contributed to a better understanding of our world and to build leadership skills that are both empowering and effective.
The main purpose was to enhance the capacity of professional Pakistani women working in various arenas and leaders of civil society organizations. The objective was to enhance their communication, problem-solving, negotiation and mediation skills, and help them strategize and advocate for desired goals. Additionally, the workshop provided a forum for working women and civil society leaders to network and build relationships that can help strengthen and empower Pakistani women.
The skills practiced during the training workshop enhanced participant’s understanding of the unwritten rules of corporate culture; emulating successful leaders; practicing strategies to demonstrate confidence; advocating for self; overcoming stereotypical tendencies; finding a balance between life and work, and using proven leadership techniques to manage conflicts through negotiations.
This workshop was based on the research and application of two of Edward de Bono’s world famous thinking courses: ‘CoRT Thinking’, and ‘Six Thinking Hats’ in Pakistan since the last 18 years.
Normally when we approach any thinking situation like problem solving, making a decision or answering questions we face confusion. The main problems are: Where do I start? How do I know if I have looked objectively at the subject? Are there important factors I have omitted? Are my conclusions accurate? Have I covered all the necessary points? Are my priorities correct? Have I been biased in my thinking? Have I been creative enough? Have I looked at alternatives?
A variety of training methodologies were involved in the Workshop, including a visual presentation of 18 years’ of teaching and research in thinking skills in Pakistan; practice of thinking skills individually and in groups; thinking games to develop flexibility of the mind; excerpts from a video program on thinking; application of thinking tools on a variety of personal, organizational and other issues and conducting a meeting using the ‘Six Thinking Hats’. Participants were given a pre-test and a post-test on thinking to assess the improvement as a result of the training.
They were also given reading materials on research from Pakistan and outside on thinking skills. The specific objectives were to enable the participants to:
