Training in Operations Research Methodology

In line with the fourth strategic objective of SFPS, various training activities in the area of operations research were undertaken by SFP/Tulane during the first two years of project implementation .

In collaboration with the Centre d’Etudes et de Recherche sur la Population pour le Développement (CERPOD) of the Sahel Institute and the Africa Operations Research and Technical Assistance Project II of the Population Council, a training seminar on operations research techniques applied to Reproductive Health/Family Planning was held in Bamako. The seminar was attended by 16 RH/FP professionals from Burkina Faso (2) , Cameroon (2) , Côte d’Ivoire (2) , Mali (6) , Niger (2) , Senegal (2) and Togo (2) . Nine research protocols were developed and one of these is currently being implemented in Cameroon under the project "Entre Nous Jeunes " .

Another short-term training workshop was held in Mbour,Senegal, in collaboration with the Institut Santé et Développement (ISED) of the Cheikh Anta Diop University. Eghteen professionals from the health districts in Senegal attended the workshop.

In addition to these short-term training activities, SFPS /Tulane, in collaboration with the UNFPA technical support team based in Dakar worked towards introducing the operations research methodology into the curriculum of ENSEA (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Statistique et d’Economie Appliquée) and IFORD (Institut de Formation et de Recherche Démographique of the University of Yaounde I). In this vein, a 30-hour training module on operations research methodology was integrated into the curriculum for statistical engineers specializing in Management Information Systems for RH/FP programs and into the curriculum of the 3-month training course on Management Information Systems for RH/FP programs. Likewise, a module of the same duration was included into the IFORD curriculum. A total of 28 students from IFORD and 14 from ENSEA were trained in operations research methodology during the 1996-1997 academic year. Plans are to train ENSEA and IFORD faculty in operations research methodology during the fourth year of the project.

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