The UNFPA strategic plan focuses on staff having new a skill set such as negotiation skills, critical thinking, result-based management, leadership, assertiveness, monitoring and evaluation to manage and monitor effectively UNFPA-supported programmes.
In the past few months, UNFPA Cambodia had an intense training on the Results-Based Management which enabled staff to better understanding the importance of results oriented work.
This week, the country office skills building session focused on "Critical Thinking" skills during a one day staff learning session. With the guidance of a consultant the staff learned about the standards of critical thinking, the elements of reasoning and the desirable intellectual traits which accompany critical thinking. The team also discussed how to broaden their approaches to identify alternative solutions and choose one over the other based on intellectual standards. UNFPA staff learned how to apply analytical skills to argue for a different point of view, using evidence for a debate and anticipating consequence in leading to a conclusion. "This learning session helped me to think broader in identifying relevant scenarios for programming; and, it enabled me to compare which approach I should adopt for effective programming", emphasized Saky Lim, National Programme Officer for Local Governance, UNFPA.
The group exercises enabled staff to measure and apply their newly acquired skills and to present ideas in an accurate and precise way with implementing partners. The country office staff evaluated their own work situation and which standards were not being met in their daily work, but more importantly how to be more coherent in their critical thinking.
The learning day provided a chance for everyone to revisit what they have contributed to the organization and refresh their commitment for the improved programming.
