Training/Professional Development

he People In Aid Code of Good Practice is an internationally recognised management tool that helps agencies enhance the quality of their human resources management. The Code provides a comprehensive and sector specific framework relevant to organisations of any shape or size.

Using the results of a questionnaire sent to aid agencies in the UK, the report investigates the current situation regarding insurance cover for aid agencies, the difficulties experienced in obtaining insurance and how agencies combat the problem of obtaining adequate, cost-effective cover.

This publication is one of the principal outcomes of a joint action research project of the DEA and the Department for International Development (DFID) on how NGOs and other development education practitioners consider measuring the effectiveness and impact of their programmes. It explores the key concepts in effectiveness and evaluation, reviews a series of pilot projects from the research project, and proposes a framework to assist in measuring effectiveness in development education practice. An important feature of the project was to support and advise development educators, to achieve this a complementary, web-based 'Users' Guide on Measuring Effectiveness in Development Education' is accessible online. The online Users' Guide offers practical documents and methods to support evaluation as well as further details about the project's pilot initiatives.

A practical guide to setting up and running arts projects in the community including advice for planning and organizing and templates for project proposals and managing publicity.

Building on from the original manual in launched in February 2000 this new version has been updated. It is designed for health and disability workers planning to set up and develop a resource centre within resource-poor communities around the world.

A detailed guide for organisations and individuals planning to evaluate arts education projects.

This is an international resource pack for practitioners, which pulls together practical ideas and experiences from people using the Reflect approach around the world. The resource is split into 5 sections: the written word, the spoken word, numbers, images and the last section provides some examples of Reflect in action.

In a world of numbers and quantification, if there are no indicators to assess the value of activities, feelings or relationships these things-however real-have no legitimacy. The arts, at least in terms of public policy, have long suffered from the difficulty of quantifying and expressing their value. In the late 1980s an attempt was made by John Myerscough and colleagues to express the financial importance of the arts in a Policy Studies Institute report. This approach fitted well with the preoccupations of the times, and had considerable influence on arts organisations and the public sector generally. But, despite appearances to the contrary, financial growth is not the only measure of public good. And while the arts certainly can contribute to our GNP, they contribute far more to the health, well-being, stability, development and happiness of British society. The problem is to express these contributions in ways which are clear, provable and helpful in making the most of culture and creative activity. This paper seeks to address these problems.

Towards a Local Cultural Index: measuring the cultural vitality of communities There is an absence of any reliable comparative benchmarking of the cultural vitality of communities. In other areas of leisure provision-notably in sports and recreation facilities-local government has had clear guidance for many years, with positive results for local communities. The issue is not one of enforced uniformity, or regulation, but of accepted standards which cities, towns and rural areas may wish to work towards. The question therefore arises whether an index of local cultural services could help people know, if not what level of provision they should have, at least what they do have, and how it compares with that of other towns and districts. This paper is a first attempt at coming to grips with the challenge of developing a Local Culture Index. It is one element in a body of work by COMEDIA on how the cultural sector can assess and report on its performance with the ultimate aim of renewing the relationship between artists, cultural organisations and society.

Listening for a Change is an introduction and guide to the philosophy and practice of oral testimony in the development process. It contains practical guidelines and case-studies, as well as raising questions about the limitations and ambiguities of oral evidence, and exploring the different ways development and community groups are using testimonies.