By: Suresh Babu, Xinshen Diao, and Nandita Srivastava
December 2021
Introduction
This blog is part of a blog series on ‘Conducting Virtual Training during COVID-19: IFPRI Researchers’ Experience’. It will focus on best practices and approaches, key challenges and opportunities, and the way forward.
This blog post reflects on the experience of a three-module virtual training workshop on trade flow analysis for research institutions in Asian countries conducted in September 2020, as part of USAID funded Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy, Research, Capacity and Influence (PRCI) project. The objective of the training was to build trade data analysis skills among Asian research institutions using detail UN Comtrade trade flow data in MS Excel. This format is important for many local researchers who are not familiar with STATA and other statistical software. The dataset is rich and provides trade flow information to conduct quantitative research that can help researchers understand the impact of COVID-19 on their countries’ agri-food imports and exports. The training was jointly organized with Kasetsart University (KU), Thailand, a key partner institution of PRCI. The training announcement with a clear learning objective was shared with different Asian institutions along with a registration website link to help identify potential participants two months in advance of the training. The training program was then shared with registered participants a few weeks prior to the training.
Brief overview of trade flow analysis training
The training was organized into three two-hour modules held on September 14, 21, and 28, 2020. Forty-two researchers and government analysts from Cambodia, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam participated in the training. Two weeks before the training, the BACI trade datasets for individual countries in MS Excel and a collection of trade analysis related literature were shared with participants via dropbox links. The first module provided by KU and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) introduced trade flow analysis. The module also explained the BACI trade flow database in detail. Finally, it gave a few examples on how to use the datasets as guidance and provided a group exercise assignment for each country.
The second module presented how to conduct analysis using the trade flow datasets using examples from Papua New Guinea and Myanmar. This was followed by Q&A and exercise assignments. IFPRI staff reviewed assignment submissions and later provided all participants correct answers in an excel file. The second exercise assignment asked participants to use their country datasets to perform basic trade flow analysis that eventually could be used as part of their research paper in 2021. As such, answers varied depending on the dataset so questions were answered on an individual basis.
The third module had participants apply the knowledge received during the first two modules of training and present their preliminary trade flow analysis. The workshop was closed with a workshop recap, Q&A and remarks from the three organizing institutions. Based on the evaluation conducted by KU, the training was successful because the topic was relevant to the participants due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic affecting trade in many Asian countries, and the training content and technical methods were tailored to their needs and capability. The participants are currently using the datasets and the skills they gained from the training to prepare research papers analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on agri-food trade flows in their respective countries.
MSU provided logistic support for the training by sending the zoom platform link for each module and helped address any issues participants faced while trying to access the platform. The MSU team, with support from IFPRI, also collated questions raised by the participants in the chat window that were then shared with the moderator who posed them to the experts at the end of each module. KU invited speakers, selected participants, prepared the program, and edited the training videos. All the training sessions were recorded, and MSU later posted edited training videos on the PRCI project website to create awareness and share the content with a larger audience.
Best Practices
We identified key factors for conducting a successful virtual training. First, the training program should be well defined with clear objectives and appropriate time allocated to Q&A and training exercise discussion. It may be useful to conduct a mock practice session with the moderators and speakers before the actual event. Second, it is important that training coordinators and moderators ensure that the platform is working smoothly, and all the speakers and participants can access it. Frequent reminder emails prior to each training module should be sent to participants with the link to join the training. Third, training content should consider the technical capacity of participants and datasets should be in a format familiar to participants and sent well in advance. Fourth, the presence of support staff during the training is important to avoid unexpected disruption due to technical problems. Support staff, moderators, and speakers should check in thirty minutes before the training to ensure the platform is running smoothly. Fifth, moderators play an important role guiding speakers and training participants and help to ensure that any technical challenges during the training are addressed immediately. Sixth, recording the training and editing the recorded videos after the training are important. Links of the videos can be shared with the participants along with the presentation files for future reference. It also provides an opportunity for posting on an appropriate platform to reach a larger audience. Finally, to strengthen relationship with participants and ensure that the training skills are being practiced, follow up activities such as research papers should be considered as part of the training plan. It is important to be able to respond to the questions raised during participants’ follow-up research activities quickly and provide guidance and comments during their research process.
Lessons Learnt
Based on our training experience, we found that virtual trainings are an effective substitute to in-person training as a means to bring participants together from across geographies. It is more cost effective as no travel cost is involved. Because they are virtual, the trainings can be spread across a period of time, not only giving participants time to absorb the content but also lessening the disruption of participants’ daily work schedules. This is obvious advantage compared with in-person training that is given intensively in a short period of time.
Key Challenges
Although virtual trainings can prove to be highly valuable, there are still some challenges. With trainers and trainees in multiple time zones, it can be difficult to schedule a virtual training with a time that is convenient for everyone. Participants from developing countries may also face frequent internet disruptions making it difficult for them to participate and stay engaged. It can also be challenging to ascertain engagement levels, especially if participants do not have their video on. Thus, conducting interactive activities with training-related group/independent exercises becomes important.
Way Forward
Going forward, we anticipate that virtual trainings will continue to be an important mode of training given their benefits. As travel restrictions are lifted across the world, organizations may choose to use a ‘hybrid’ mode of training (this is already happening now) where participants who are able to travel can join in person, while others can join virtually. The best practices identified through the trade flow analysis virtual training can help in organizing future trainings in a more systematic manner.
Suresh Babu is a Senior Research Fellow in IFPRI’s Development Strategy and Governance Division and Head of the Capacity Strengthening Program at IFPRI. Xinshen Diao is the Deputy Division Director and Senior Research Fellow in IFPRI’s Development Strategy and Governance Division. Nandita Srivastava is a Research Analyst in IFPRI’s Development Strategy and Governance Division.