Participants during the World Bank’s Capacity Building Program
This program offered a tailored curriculum that directly addressed the real-world challenges faced by project implementation units like ours. Through immersive sessions on Environmental and Social Frameworks (ESF), financial management, procurement, stakeholder engagement, and communication, I was able to refine my technical knowledge while gaining a broader strategic lens for implementation. Particularly relevant were the modules on contract management, communication in fragile environments, and managing safeguard risks—topics critical to EASTRIP’s success in transforming regional skills development centres across Ethiopia.
What set this training apart was its highly adaptive and modular approach. The program not only responded to our country’s specific learning needs but also fostered cross-country peer learning with counterparts from similar implementation contexts. These exchanges provided a rich source of practical solutions and reinforced a sense of shared purpose across World Bank-financed projects.
In a role where success depends on the ability to manage complexity and deliver outcomes, this capacity building program has strengthened not just my toolkit, but also my resolve. It is a must for any project leader seeking to elevate their impact and contribute meaningfully to national development goals.
The delegates from the World Bank side leading the training included Rajashree S. Paralkar Manager, Operations Learning and Engagement, Dr. Juliana Victor – Operations Manager, Eritrea, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Sudan and Asmeen Khan – Operations Manager.
By Kalkidan T. Deribe, National Project Coordinator, EASTRIP – Ethiopia
