2. How to integrate information collection and training?

Responding to this question first requires a more systematic assessment of AUICK's training activities. Who was trained? From what cities and countries? What did they bring to the training and what did they take back? Do we know anything about their experience after the training? Such an assessment is beyond the capacity of this report, since followup information on the trainees is only now beginning to be collected. It would be useful to develop a systematic process and perhaps a follow-up questionnaire for the trainees to complete after they have returned to their positions.

Trainees can also be selected at least in part to include people from cities where AUICK has information from past inquiries and in-depth studies. The trainees could be asked to review past studies of their cities and to comment on the information and to add to that information, for example, with more details on any specific project that had been reported on previously.

We should also give thought to how trainees might be used for information gathering after their training. It might be feasible to think of creating something like an AUICK Associate or Correspondent. All or some select group of trainees might be specially designated as AUICK Country Associates or Country Correspondents. They could be asked to report on specific projects, or to assist AUICK staff in obtaining periodic information on projects that would be of special interest. Such project progress reports could be disseminated through the newsletter.