Comments from participants

We have always welcomed comments from all participants on our training programmes. Below are some of the participants' comments from our most recently held programmes, revealing what they considered to be the strengths of the programme.

'Making Markets Work', Glasgow, UK, July 2010

This training programme attracted 66 participants from 26 different countries. Organisations sponsoring and sending participants included AKF, Mercy Corps, SDC, Swisscontact, Intercooperation, Oxfam, ASI/DFID, AusAID, and the DTI. Donor agencies, NGOs, governments and contractors were all represented on the training programme.
"Overall a totally excellent course ... you are all both very professional AND approachable"
"A great lens to apply to all of our interventions"
"Links the various M4P models in ways that self-study cannot"
"Brings M4P to life without putting it forward as the only alternative"
"Energetic and competent team"
"Great guest speakers"
"Very well organised - excellent logistics"
"Clear frameworks, tools, processes and definitions"
"By far the best training with regards to organising social activities!"
"Great access to all the faculty"
"Very relevant to current political and economic situation"

'Making markets work for enterprise in Africa', Mombasa, Kenya, March 2010

This regional training programme attracted 63 participants from 18 different countries. Organisations sponsoring and sending participants included DFID, Swisscontact, AKF, Gatsby Trusts, Helvetas, DAI, ADB, KPMG, World Bank, Sida, Oxfam, RLDC and Practical Action.
"Excellent facilitation and written materials"
"Experienced and credible resource people"
"Very relevant to both donors and agencies"
"Provided memorable and paractical solutions to many challenges I face daily"
"Exceptional organisation - very responsive and proactive"
"Down-to earth realities"
"Networking opportunities were fantastic!"
"Offers a powerful tool for development work"
"Content and delivery was first class"
"Practical, real case studies"
"Gets to the very  heart  of what drives optimal development outcomes in poor countries"

'Making Markets Work', Glasgow, UK, July 2009

This training programme attracted 65 participants from 25 different countries. Organisations sponsoring and sending participants included AKF, SDC, DFID, Mercy Corps, USAID, ASI, Swisscontact, Intercooperation, Gatsby Trusts, RLDC, FSD and Sida. Donor agencies, NGOs, governments and contractors were all represented.
"You are an impressive team of facilitators ... and actors (good humour). Will recommend others to attend"
"Animated and engaging presenters!"
"Approach is powerful and convincing and was well presented"
"Well-developed and original curriculum"
"Absolutely perfectly organised"
"Very interesting blend of people (experience, field work, opinions etc)"
"Very competent and highly committed trainers"
"Perfect location! Scotland is beautiful"
"Applicability of real cases and recent findings"
"Complicated matter communicated in a clear and systematic manner"
"Being in a University and away from London is a good idea"

'Making markets work for enterprise in Africa', Mombasa, Kenya, March 2009

This training programme attracted 60 participants from 15 different countries. Organisations sponsoring and sending participants included GTZ, SNV, Swisscontact, DFID, Oxfam, AKF, DAI, Gatsby Trusts, RLDC, SDC, Chevron, MESPT/Danida, Sida and SNV.
"Excellent course. Best I have been to!"
"Encourages a new way of thinking"
"Friendly and positive atmosphere for learning"
"Competent and experienced trainers"
"Very well organised and executed"
"Great 'take back home' materials"
"Very real and enlightening"
"Strategic thinking through LOGICAL concepts"
"Realistic cases that resonate with what we do"
"Innovative with a lot of food for thought"
"Complete package of the whole M4P cycle"

'Making Markets Work', Glasgow, UK, July 2008

This training programme attracted 68 participants from 27 different countries. Organisations sponsoring and sending participants included AKF, Mercy Corps, SDC, Swisscontact, DFID, Oxfam, Sida, GTZ, USAID, SNV and IFC. Donor agencies, NGOs, national governments and contractors were all represented on the training programme.
"Passionate instructors and dedicated staff"
"Challenging and fun learning environment"
"Stimulating development practitioners to think beyond the obvious"
"Very professional! Competent, synchronised, humorous ..."
"Wonderfully organised themes and presentations"
"Very clear, concise, comprehensive delivery of very difficult concepts"
"The most organised training programme I have ever been to"
"Glasgow is beautiful and relaxed - very suited to training"
"Condenses good development practice into a systemic approach"
"Reminds us to think of sustainability from the beginning"
"When everything is lost the doughnut remains!"