U.S. Contractor Announces Plans to Train Pakistani NGOs, On Its Own Dime

http://www.propublica.org/article/u.s.-contractor-announces-plans-to-train-pakistani-ngos-on-its-own-dime

excerpts:

Development Alternatives Inc., a major American development contractor, will open a center in Pakistan to train local nongovernmental organizations to obtain and carry out foreign-funded development projects, the company announced today. The move follows the Obama administration’s decision to move its aid spending in Pakistan away from U.S. contractors and NGOs, and channel it increasingly through Pakistani organizations. That spending could be as much as $7.5 billion over the next five years.

…DAI is paying for the training program itself, with no financial assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the agency that will oversee the $7.5 billion aid package. Participants will likely be asked to pay to take some of the classes, but O’Connor said he doubts those fees will cover the costs of the program. DAI expects to offer the first classes as early as next month.

“We want to make that bridge with these groups,” he said. “We’re not trying to present this as an entirely altruistic venture. This is a business development decision. But it’s also doing the right thing.”

by teru kuwayama at 2010-01-13 21:25:52 UTC | Bookmark | | Report spam→