Academy for Educational Development

In 2001, AED was awarded the contract to implement the USAID START (Strategic Technical Assistance for Results with Training)/Russia Project. This activity fully utilizes the lessons learned from past training programs and incorporates best practices and new training methodologies in adult learning and training. The project strives for excellence by matching carefully selected groups of Russian professionals with the appropriate training providers in the US, Russia, or other countries. Project training programs range from health education and urban programs, to environmental management, domestic violence and family planning, to programs in independent media, fair elections, rule of law, NGO development, banking and finance and small business development. In addition to training activities, USAID also emphasizes assessment of training's long term impact on participant organizations.

Alumni professional development activities are also being implemented utilizing an important crosscutting approach that supports US assistance to Russia. The project administers 3-5 day general management workshops throughout Russia for public/private sector leaders and professionals who are former alumni of USAID training and other programs supported by the US Department of State (e.g., Business for Russia, Community Connections, International Visitors). These workshops have proven to be popular with participants by helping them introduce innovative ideas into their workplaces, and by helping them learn how to advocate for their common interests.

Recent training interventions have included:

Crisis Intervention Practices as Part of Social Welfare Services (US based), a program which took place in February 2002 in Los Angeles, CA, trained sixteen Russian social service professionals in US crisis intervention practices, particularly those targeting families with children at risk of abandonment. The participants discussed such topics as child abuse and neglect, preventing child abandonment, parental education for parents of mentally handicapped children, nonprofit management, and family-based services for children of substance abusers. They also visited fourteen social service organizations, including a child abuse hotline center, the Los Angeles Police Department, a preschool providing intensive treatment for children with serious behavioral problems, and a residential treatment facility for adolescent girls who are pregnant or new parents. Upon their return to Russia, participants successfully applied the newly-learned models and technologies in their workplace and shared their training and experiences in the US with more than 500 social work colleagues from all over Russia.

Building a Network of Domestic Elections Monitors (Third-country based) This training arranged in March-April 2002 combined the expertise of two training providers from two different countries, Ukraine and Croatia. Focusing on voters' rights protection, this training provided the participants a unique, hands-on experience in monitoring the March parliamentary elections in Ukraine. During the course of the activity, they learned about organizing citizen participation in the political process through such topics as campaign planning, public relations, election monitoring and voter education. The participants are currently considering the establishment of a joint international organization with their Ukrainian and Croatian counterparts.

Modern Managerial Practices (Russia-based) A number of similar activities took place in 2002 in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Nizhni Novgorod, Yekaterinburg and Volgograd for fifty alumni of US Government-sponsored training programs each. The participants, representing governmental, non-profit, and private organizations, were introduced to new managerial practices while enhancing their professional and personal ties. The programs also helped participants identify the best ways to build up a strong infrastructure for the creation of an alumni or professional association to function as an active source of support for its members.