Capacity Building of Organizations and Community Groups

A major part of AET’s work in both Africa and the UK is to help governments, local authorities and community organisations to develop the skills and capacity for meeting the education and training needs of their children and young people. AET provides support to a wide range of organisations in a variety of skills areas.

National Examinations Centres in Somaliland and Puntland
The Trust is assisting the Ministries of Education in Somaliland and Puntland to establish National Examination Centres and examination systems. This includes establishing new buildings, working with the Ministry to establish National Examination Boards and procedures and training ministry and examination staff, external markers, examiners and moderators, head teachers and teachers to manage primary and secondary school examinations.

Computer and IT Training in Southern Sudan
AET is helping the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and the State Ministries to develop the capacity of their local staff especially in Information Technology, computing and English language. The Trust has established four small IT and computing centres, three in Community Resource and Open Learning Centres and one inside the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Headquarters in Juba. Over 1,000 people have already been trained in basic computing. Over the next two years a further 1,000 the majority working for the Government and local authorities will be trained. As English is the official language in the South many will also receive training in basic English for computing and business.

DFID and the British Council
In partnership with the British Council, AET is responsible for the management of the UK Department for International Development’s (DfID) Expanded Scholarship and Training Scheme for Sudan. Through this scheme the British Council Management Team are providing grants to international, local NGOs and Government Ministries to enable them to run capacity building projects in Southern Sudan and in other areas affected by conflict such as the Nuba Mountains. To date six international NGOs, five local NGOs and two Ministries have received grants to implement a wide range of capacity building initiatives. These include schemes to develop the capacity of young people in leadership, management and administration, small business management, teaching carpentry, construction, agriculture, fisheries, tailoring and English language.

Strengthening the Capacity of African Community Organisations in the UK
The project aims to improve the capacity of African community and refugee organisations in Greater London to function more efficiently and be more responsive to the needs of their communities. This is achieved through bespoke training and mentoring. On completion they receive support from AET and are encouraged to network with each other and gain practical knowledge from their peers. To date staff and volunteers from thirty African Community Organisations have benefited from this project.