By Rasheda Akter from Manikganj,

 
BARCIK recently organized a two-day staff-level capacity development training at Arab Bhaban in Manikganj. All BARCIK field staff from the Manikganj region participated in the workshop.

The program began with Regional Coordinator Bimal Roy delivering the objectives of the training. On the first day, Director Silvanus Lamin led sessions on gender concepts, the differences between sex and gender, gender analysis, inequality, poverty, and the relationship between gender and food security. He emphasized that ensuring equal rights, access to resources, and participation in decision-making are essential for achieving sustainable food security. Participants engaged in group discussions and exercises to deepen their understanding.

On the second day, Director Kamruzzaman Sagar conducted sessions on participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods. He explained top-down and bottom-up approaches, and various PRA tools such as seasonal calendars, social maps, resource maps, wealth ranking, and FGDs. He also discussed the importance of monitoring and evaluation, whistle-blowing policies, and procedures for handling complaints to ensure staff safety and accountability.

Additionally, sessions covered techniques for information collection and interviewing, ethical photography guidelines, types and methods of communication, and principles of effective writing, including news reporting. Participants practiced these skills through group work and exercises. The training also included discussions on human resource development and strategies for identifying and nurturing local resource persons within communities.