Last but not least Lusaka

We returned to base for the last leg of the training, involving the provinces of Eastern, Southern and Western. By this point it did feel like déjà vu for Mike and I, having to repeat the same things again whilst trying to sound as enthusiastic and energised as the first time. We managed of course and were helped by it being a new group of participants who tended to ask the same question as the other groups but in a completely different way. For our part is done. We can sit back and wait to see what happens. Will the participants follow our advice and instructions? Will the system crash? Will the districts and stakeholders buy into this new process? Will we actually get any data? Fingers crossed.

     

Part two in Kabwe

To be honest there was nothing particularly memorable – good or bad – about the Kabwe workshop. Mike and I went through the same pitter-patter, more perfected now and hopefully it did not sound too tired and formulaic already. There were four different provinces – Central, Lusaka, Muchinga and Northern – at this training and the participants were similar in profile to the first workshop. Some participants grasped the concepts, methods and IT side of things quickly, and were running ahead of some of their colleagues by the end of day one, whilst others needed much more time and attention. Such a variance in the skills and capabilities is to be expected with 120+ people, though the people at the low end of the range who displayed fairly weak IT skills and understanding was worrying. 

      

First stop on the E-Mapping tour - Kitwe

All in all the first of the three E-Mapping workshops went well, though both Mike and I did find the talking, standing and non-stop questions pretty tiring. The week and training all began in Kitwe, the second largest of the mining towns in the Copperbelt and certainly not an attractive one as a huge slag heap of coal greets visitors as you enter the town. What was the training all about? So we had brought together the HIV and AIDS coordinators at the district and provincial levels from three provinces – the Copperbelt, Luapula and North Western – so that they could learn how to use our all singing, all dancing E-Mapping tool (www.zambianacmisonline.org). In simple language, the tool is a way of monitoring and coordinating HIV and AIDS organisations in Zambia. 

Mike and I chopped and changed, dovetailed, swapped roles, answered questions, got the participants to test and try and learn, all with the aim that after the two days they would be able to go back to their districts and provinces and start using and sharing the tool with their HIV and AIDS organisations and stakeholders. For a first attempt the training was pleasing and the feedback was positive; they were almost relieved that something like this tool had come along to help them in their work. Crucially, the new Director General for the National AIDS Council (NAC) was able to open the workshop and stay for the first session, which allowed the participants just enough time to share some of their grievances and what should be done to improve their jobs. Then, like a circus, we packed everything up and moved on to the next training venue. Well we tried to but first there was a four hour delay before we could go anywhere as our NAC vehicle refused to move.

7,000+ sheets equals . . . a lot of reams of paper

As we finally began preparing for the E-Mapping training there was sadly no time to save any trees and instead I experienced what seemed like endless hours of printing and photocopying. It had felt like that we had had weeks of waiting and then all of sudden the workshops were only days away. Mike and I did not quite reach panic or crisis mode but there was certainly too much running around due to little fault of our own. The main worry was discovering that the person responsible (to remain anonymous for now) for booking the accommodation had failed to do so, which meant the 120+ people were about to arrive with no beds or training venue booked. Of course we got around this though it should not have gone that far in the first place. 

My other memory of this week was the paper, which we would have handed over to the same anonymous individual but needless to say we did not trust him. This meant I spent all of today spread-eagled between a printer and the photocopier in the VSO office. As for all the training participants the list of documents was endless covering questionnaires, presentations, timelines, manuals and so on. Maybe Mike and I went a bit too far with the handouts but we wanted to make sure that the participants got everything that they would need. So now the training can be begin and for the record it was around 14 reams of paper that we used up.

Return to Maz

Back in Mazabuka for the day for a meeting with members of the DATF Executive Committee and the experience was a mixed one. Even before I stepped off the bus I could see some familiar faces at the roadside. Their greetings, and those of others who I bumped into, were typically warm and friendly. Questions and phrases rolled out along the lines of we miss you, when are you coming back and we need you here. It is impossible not to weaken in the face of such affection and think about returning.

The welcome at the start of the Executive meeting was similar and they were appreciative that I had found the time to travel to Maz. As has been the case in previous meetings the discussions, debates and resolutions were not the issue. To repeat myself from previous blog articles, my former colleagues say all the right things, yet it is the doing that remains the problem, which is probably why they liked Judy and I so much because we ensured that the majority of the actions got done; either by doing them ourselves or by nagging others.

As an aside, Zambian friends of mine openly admit the action issue. They would get the gold medal for saying the right thing and convincing others, particularly donors, of their sincerity but the doing part is a whole different matter. To finish waffling away, as the Executive know I am still here and willing to support them if asked but they need to take on the responsibilities and work themselves rather than vice-versa. They are all perfectly capable and able, so I await news on what is happening and will hopefully see some progress.

Home sweet home

I am settling in to Lusaka and here are few pics of my new place to show it. The maps and chitenge all made it from Maz to Lusaka so a few things will look familiar.