CAPACITY BUILDING IN CAPACITY BUILDING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Russel C. Jones, Ph.D., P.E.Russel C. Jones, Ph.D., P.E.

President President

WFEO Committee on Capacity WFEO Committee on Capacity BuildingBuilding

Capacity Building for Capacity Building for Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development

““Give a man a fish: you have fed him Give a man a fish: you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish: you for today. Teach a man to fish: you have fed him for a lifetime.”have fed him for a lifetime.”

The need . . . The need . . .

““Let me challenge all of Let me challenge all of you to help mobilize global you to help mobilize global science and technology to science and technology to tackle the interlocking tackle the interlocking crises of hunger, disease, crises of hunger, disease, environmental degradation environmental degradation and conflict that are and conflict that are holding back the holding back the developing world.”developing world.”

Kofi Annan, 2002Kofi Annan, 2002

The need . . . The need . . .

““We need to encourage We need to encourage international commitments to international commitments to promote the kind of promote the kind of engineering and technology engineering and technology that contributes to lasting that contributes to lasting development around the development around the world.”world.”– Koichiro Matsuura, 2000Koichiro Matsuura, 2000

Capacity Building DefinitionCapacity Building Definition

Capacity building is a dedication to the Capacity building is a dedication to the strengthening of economies, governments, strengthening of economies, governments, institutions and individuals through institutions and individuals through education, training, mentoring, and the education, training, mentoring, and the infusion of resources. Capacity building infusion of resources. Capacity building aims at developing secure, stable, and aims at developing secure, stable, and sustainable structures, systems and sustainable structures, systems and organizations, with a particular emphasis on organizations, with a particular emphasis on using motivation and inspiration for people using motivation and inspiration for people to improve their lives. to improve their lives.

Results of Aid to DateResults of Aid to Date

• ““The Elusive Quest for Growth”, by William Easterly The Elusive Quest for Growth”, by William Easterly (MIT Press, 2002):(MIT Press, 2002):– Previous efforts have tried to use foreign aid, Previous efforts have tried to use foreign aid,

investment in machines, fostering education at the investment in machines, fostering education at the primary and secondary levels, controlling population primary and secondary levels, controlling population growth, and giving loans and debt relief conditional growth, and giving loans and debt relief conditional on reforms to stimulate the economic growth that on reforms to stimulate the economic growth that would allow these countries to move toward self would allow these countries to move toward self sufficiencysufficiency

– all of these efforts over the past few decades have all of these efforts over the past few decades have failed to lead to the desired economic growthfailed to lead to the desired economic growth

– these massive and expensive efforts have failed these massive and expensive efforts have failed because they did not hit the fundamental human because they did not hit the fundamental human behavioral chord that “people respond to incentives”behavioral chord that “people respond to incentives”

What Would Work?What Would Work?

• Easterly argues that there are two areas Easterly argues that there are two areas that can likely lead to the desired that can likely lead to the desired economic growth in developing countries, economic growth in developing countries, that can lead them toward economic self that can lead them toward economic self sufficiency: sufficiency: – utilization of advanced technologies, utilization of advanced technologies,

andand– education that leads to high skills in education that leads to high skills in

technological areastechnological areas

What outcomes are desired?What outcomes are desired?

• A solid base of technologically A solid base of technologically prepared people in developing prepared people in developing countries countries – to attract investments by multinational to attract investments by multinational

companiescompanies– to assist in making the most of foreign aid to assist in making the most of foreign aid

fundsfunds– to provide a basis for business to provide a basis for business

development by local entrepreneursdevelopment by local entrepreneurs

Two complementary Two complementary approachesapproaches

• UNESCO “Engineering for a Better UNESCO “Engineering for a Better World” proposal, to enhance World” proposal, to enhance engineering programs within that engineering programs within that organizationorganization

• WFEO Committee on Capacity WFEO Committee on Capacity Building, to provide an action Building, to provide an action oriented program for forward motionoriented program for forward motion

UNESCO Plans for Capacity UNESCO Plans for Capacity Building – 2003Building – 2003

• Stimulated by US rejoining of UNESCO Stimulated by US rejoining of UNESCO after 18 year absence: “Engineering after 18 year absence: “Engineering for a Better World” program proposedfor a Better World” program proposed

• Vision is to promote human and Vision is to promote human and institutional capacity building in institutional capacity building in developing countries, for poverty developing countries, for poverty reduction and sustainable economic reduction and sustainable economic and social developmentand social development

Focus of “Engineering for a Focus of “Engineering for a Better World”Better World”• Strengthen engineering education, training Strengthen engineering education, training

and continued professional developmentand continued professional development

• Standards, quality assurance and Standards, quality assurance and accreditationaccreditation

• Development of curricula, learning and Development of curricula, learning and teaching materials and methodsteaching materials and methods

• Distance and interactive learning (including Distance and interactive learning (including virtual universities and libraries)virtual universities and libraries)

……more… more…

… … more areas of focusmore areas of focus• Development of engineering ethics and codes Development of engineering ethics and codes

of practiceof practice• Promotion and public understanding of Promotion and public understanding of

engineering and technologyengineering and technology• Development of indicators, information and Development of indicators, information and

communication systems for engineeringcommunication systems for engineering• Addressing gender issues in engineering and Addressing gender issues in engineering and

technologytechnology• Inter-university and institutional cooperationInter-university and institutional cooperation• Development of policy and planning to Development of policy and planning to

support the abovesupport the above

WFEO Standing Committee WFEO Standing Committee on Capacity Buildingon Capacity Building

• Established in October 2003 at the World Established in October 2003 at the World Federation of Engineering Organizations’ Federation of Engineering Organizations’ General Assembly in Tunis, based on a General Assembly in Tunis, based on a proposal from the United Statesproposal from the United States

• Hosted by the American Association of Hosted by the American Association of Engineering Societies in Washington DCEngineering Societies in Washington DC

• Chaired by Russel C. JonesChaired by Russel C. Jones• To complement UNESCO “Engineering for To complement UNESCO “Engineering for

a Better World” in-house efforta Better World” in-house effort

What is different about this What is different about this project?project?• The CCB is run by engineers who understand The CCB is run by engineers who understand

engineering problems and solutions.engineering problems and solutions.• The CCB approach is interdisciplinary, The CCB approach is interdisciplinary,

understanding that complex problems require understanding that complex problems require complex solutions.complex solutions.

• The CCB supports the creation of a development The CCB supports the creation of a development continuum: what works in one emerging economy continuum: what works in one emerging economy may well provide a model for anothermay well provide a model for another

• The CCB encourages engineering projects that The CCB encourages engineering projects that emphasize incentives for change in support of emphasize incentives for change in support of technical improvements and growthtechnical improvements and growth

• The CCB emphasizes entrepreneurship that has a The CCB emphasizes entrepreneurship that has a social dimensionsocial dimension

Activities for WFEO Activities for WFEO CommitteeCommittee

• Make expertise of professional and technical Make expertise of professional and technical societies in developed world available to societies in developed world available to engineers in the developing world – publications, engineers in the developing world – publications, conferences, codes of practice, and ethicsconferences, codes of practice, and ethics

• Deliver needed information to engineers and Deliver needed information to engineers and engineering educators in developing countries engineering educators in developing countries via distance learning technologiesvia distance learning technologies

• Strengthen engineering education in developing Strengthen engineering education in developing countries via sharing of best practices in countries via sharing of best practices in curricular reform and in engineering practicecurricular reform and in engineering practice

… …more…more…

… … more WFEO activitiesmore WFEO activities

• Provide an information resource for the Provide an information resource for the engineering education needs of developing engineering education needs of developing countries – teaching and learning materials, lab countries – teaching and learning materials, lab equipment, software, etc.equipment, software, etc.

• Address pipeline and diversity issues in Address pipeline and diversity issues in providing the needed quality and quantity of providing the needed quality and quantity of engineersengineers

• Promote collaboration between institutions in Promote collaboration between institutions in developing and developed worldsdeveloping and developed worlds

• Promulgate quality assurance standardsPromulgate quality assurance standards• Facilitate volunteer efforts by engineersFacilitate volunteer efforts by engineers

Next steps for WFEO Next steps for WFEO CommitteeCommittee

• Presidents of 80 WFEO member countries Presidents of 80 WFEO member countries have been asked to nominate members of have been asked to nominate members of the Committee on Capacity Building the Committee on Capacity Building (January 2004)(January 2004)

• Startup planning conference planned to Startup planning conference planned to develop detailed agenda and plan for develop detailed agenda and plan for committee (June 2004 in Washington DC)committee (June 2004 in Washington DC)

• Seeking external fundingSeeking external funding• First regular committee meeting at First regular committee meeting at

WEC2004 in Shanghai in November 2004WEC2004 in Shanghai in November 2004

EBW and WFEO CCBEBW and WFEO CCB

• ““Engineering for a Better World” is a Engineering for a Better World” is a call to action from the United call to action from the United Nations. Nations.

• The WFEO Committee on Capacity The WFEO Committee on Capacity Building is the response of the Building is the response of the engineering profession throughout engineering profession throughout the world in the form of a strategic the world in the form of a strategic action agenda.action agenda.

Outcomes of an engineering Outcomes of an engineering approachapproach

• Technical capability is needed for Technical capability is needed for developing countries to engage effectively developing countries to engage effectively in the global economy.in the global economy.

A base of qualified engineers and A base of qualified engineers and technologists will facilitate the infusion of technologists will facilitate the infusion of foreign capital through attraction of foreign capital through attraction of multinational companies to invest in the multinational companies to invest in the developing countrydeveloping country

Outcomes of an engineering Outcomes of an engineering approachapproach

• Indigenous science and technology capacity Indigenous science and technology capacity is needed to insure that international aid is needed to insure that international aid funds are utilized effectively and efficiently – funds are utilized effectively and efficiently – for initial project implementation, for long-for initial project implementation, for long-term operation and maintenance, and for the term operation and maintenance, and for the development of capacity to do future development of capacity to do future projects.projects.

An engineering approach serves to reduce An engineering approach serves to reduce brain-drainbrain-drain, showing people that they can , showing people that they can partner with donor nationspartner with donor nations in helping build in helping build their own homelands. their own homelands.

Outcomes of an engineering Outcomes of an engineering approachapproach

• In order to stimulate job formation, a In order to stimulate job formation, a technical workforce pool is needed, made technical workforce pool is needed, made up of people who are specifically educated up of people who are specifically educated and prepared to engage in entrepreneurial and prepared to engage in entrepreneurial startup efforts that meet local needsstartup efforts that meet local needs

An engineering approach, when coupled An engineering approach, when coupled with entrepreneurship, results in with entrepreneurship, results in societal societal as well as personal benefits.as well as personal benefits.

An early example of capacity An early example of capacity building: Engineer of the building: Engineer of the

AmericasAmericasInitiated in Brazil, 2003Initiated in Brazil, 2003• Concept:Concept:

– Generate a technical work force that Generate a technical work force that stimulates the regional economy and that stimulates the regional economy and that of each country in the Hemisphere (attract of each country in the Hemisphere (attract multinational companies, use aid funds multinational companies, use aid funds effectively, stimulate entrepreneurship)effectively, stimulate entrepreneurship)

– Foster professional mobility of well qualified Foster professional mobility of well qualified engineers within the Hemisphereengineers within the Hemisphere

More on Engineer of the More on Engineer of the AmericasAmericas

• Next steps:Next steps:– Present at UPADI 2004 in Mexico City in Present at UPADI 2004 in Mexico City in

SeptemberSeptember– Highlight at ICEE 2004 in Florida in OctoberHighlight at ICEE 2004 in Florida in October– Continue grass roots effort (enhance Continue grass roots effort (enhance

engineering education, establish accreditation engineering education, establish accreditation systems, …)systems, …)

– Pursue a top down approach similar to the Pursue a top down approach similar to the “Bologna Declaration” approach taken in Europe “Bologna Declaration” approach taken in Europe (harmonization of higher education programs, (harmonization of higher education programs, quality assurance systems)quality assurance systems)

– Provide input for a meeting at the ministerial Provide input for a meeting at the ministerial level to pursue these concepts level to pursue these concepts

Other close-in opportunitiesOther close-in opportunities

• Virtual exhibit (capture ASEE annual Virtual exhibit (capture ASEE annual meeting exhibit)meeting exhibit)

• Conference on teaching entrepreneurship Conference on teaching entrepreneurship to engineering studentsto engineering students

• Electronic conferences for professional Electronic conferences for professional development of faculty members who development of faculty members who cannot get to meetingscannot get to meetings

• … … many more to result from this planning many more to result from this planning conference…conference…

Contact informationContact information

Russel C. JonesRussel C. Jones

President, WFEO President, WFEO Standing Committee Standing Committee on Capacity Buildingon Capacity Building

RCJonesPE@aol.comRCJonesPE@aol.com