Five days, seven trainers, 16 participants, and 30 hours of training involving the MENAHRA Network Secretariat and SIDC-Lebanon, INCAS-Iran, and ArRazi-Morocco Knowledge Hubs, took place starting March 8 at the Padova Hotel in Beirut.
The Grant Management Training aimed to train the staff on procedures and requirements for technical, programmatic, and financial reporting and evaluation.
As time progressed and the participants started getting a clearer picture of the dynamics of the Knowledge Hubs (KHs) with respect to the Network Secretariat (NS) and vice versa. Added to that, lunch and coffee breaks were major catalysts in the participants’ making each others’ acquaintance.
Dr. Leila Ghalichi (KH-INCAS) “specifically liked the checklists and manuals we were presented with,” and she also “liked knowing that we will have to contact the Network Secretariat every single day.
Mrs. Micheline Abou Chrouch (NS) echoed Dr. Ghalichi’s comments, saying “the overall training met her expectations” and it “brought a very good interaction between the KHs, the NS, the financial teams, and everyone on board of each team.”
Ms. Khadija Aimara (KH-ArRazi) said she “did not have a clear vision of how things would be, but going through the five days of training was positive as it is always good to be trained; it adds value to our knowledge.” She did believe the training was a bit too short because the financial software is vast, but it will boost creativity and efforts to discover its features.
There are definitely going to be some challenges for the team; Mrs. Sandra Hajal (KH-SIDC) feels the “lack of flexibility and the stringent guidelines” will be stressful, while Mr. Wadih Aoun (NS) thinks that for at least the first two to three quarters, the challenge will lie in consolidating the figures from all three countries into the Progress Update and Disbursement Request and submitting it on time.
Ms. Joumana Hermez (WHO) addressed the team saying, “Coming to the end of this workshop, I just want to say that I am proud of where you have all reached. I am definitely proud of MENAHRA and where it has reached. Despite the challenges of working with the Global Fund, this training has paved the way for clear and appropriate ways to work together. I am impressed by the team, and I’m happy to know all of you, especially the newcomers on board Lubna Bounoua (KH-ArRazi) and Leila Ghalichi, with your enthusiasm, as though you have been working on this project for years. Finally, please do not hesitate to contact the WHO for anything you might need.”
Mr. Roy Wakim, who was facilitating the training, wished the team all the best, “I had the chance to participate in the first MENAHRA meeting in 2009, I have seen the organisation from the Global Fund side, and through this training, I have now seen it firsthand. Good luck and we are proud of you.”