Asia
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry:

Project title:

Malaysia

Training on Enhancing Women's Participation through Upgrading MicroEnterprises to Small-scale Enterprises

Issue/Sector:

Cooperation scheme:

Poverty, Gender

Third-country Training Program

Division in charge:

Total cost:

Southeast Asia Division, Regional Department I

Period of Cooperation Fiscal Year 2000 - 2002

Partner Country's Implementing Organization:
The University Putra Malaysia (UPM)
Ministry of Agriculture†Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Planning Unit

Supporting Organization in Japan:
Related Cooperation:
1-1 Background of the Project
The Government of Malaysia has made efforts for poverty alleviation and income generation in rural areas including the plan tofoster entrepreneurs conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Farmer's Associationand institutions of higher learning. The"training on Enhancing Women's Participation through Upgrading Micro Enterprises to Small-scale Enterprises (the Project)"was one of the above-mentioned efforts, has produced beneficial outputs and has contributed to poverty alleviation in Malaysia.
The Government of Japan and the Government of Malaysia had agreed to co-operate in organizing a training course focusing
on enhancing women''s economic participation, "Training on Enhancing Women''s Participation through Sealing-up of MicroEnterprises to Small-scale Enterprises" 1997-1999, under JICA''s Third Country Training Program to extend dissemination of therelated knowledge and skills to surrounding countries The course was highly evaluated by ex-participants at the time of terminal
evaluation in 2000, and extended another three years.

1-2 Project Overview(1) Overall Goal
To enhance women''s economic participation through upgrading micro enterprises to small-scale enterprises with the aim ofexpanding their production so that these enterprises would become more viable and sustainable The activities would also
improve the quality of life in rural areas, provide avenues for empowerment and, especially among the poor, minimally educatedrural woman.
(2) Project Purpose
To strengthen the capability of participants in understanding the various aspects of business enterprises to facilitate upgrading
micro-enterprises to small-scale enterprises.
(3) Outputs
1) Participants become more aware of their capability, build confidence and understand the importance of self-reliance among
rural women through economic participation.
2) Participants are able to understand business planning strategies and acquire the skills needed to achieve successful smallscale enterprises

3) Participants gain experience through exposure to actual cases of upgraded small-scale enterprises through field-trip
observations.
4) Participants acquire the ability to disseminate the attained knowledge to own counterparts in their home countries.
(4) Inputs
Japanese side:
Short-term Expert

1 (Senior volunteer)

Local Cost

12.3 Million Yen

Foreign Lecturer

1 (Philipino)

Malaysian side:
Counterparts39

Local Cost

136,800 RM (4.5 Million Yen)

Equipment

The University Putra Malaysia(5) Participant Countries
Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

2. Evaluation Team
Members ofEvaluation TeamJICA Malaysia office(Consigned to the local consultant: IC Network Sdn. Bhd)

Period of Evaluation

3 December 2001 - 29
March 2002

Type of Evaluation:
Terminal Evaluation By Overseas Offices

3. Results of Evaluation
3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) RelevanceAll of the ex-participants regarded the contents of the training course either as "very effective" or "effective" according to thesurvey conducted at the end of course, even though they worked for different organizations, held different positions and camefrom different academic backgrounds The observation tour for the Malaysian women entrepreneurs in rural areas was alsofavorable as it increased the incentive of the participants to implement similar activities From these indicators, it was clear thatthe content of the Training was relevant to the purpose of the training.
(2) EffectivenessAccording to the results of another questionnaire survey conducted to ex-participants, 78 percent of the respondents answeredthat they were very much satisfied with all of the content of the training course and with the wide range of contents which
extended from business planning, management to psychological issues The training was also useful in upgrading knowledge
and skills, such as how to tackle the gender problem and how to mange small-scale enterprises The English level of the exparticipants was also upgraded compared with that of three years earlier, partly because the JICA offices were more involved in
the selection of participants which helped to upgrade the quality of participants.
(3) Efficiency
The project was efficient due to the large store of experience accumulated in the third-country training programs over the past
three years, although some minor problems were seen due to a shift by the University Putra Malaysia (UPM) to a self-supporting

entity and accompanying complex accounting procedureOverall, all the topics were covered within the five-week training period
and at the end of the Training, all trainees were able to develop an action plan for a project they would manage upon retuninghome.
(4) Impact
Although the response rate to the questionnaire was only 13 percent, all respondents said that they were involved in women
empowerment or village development, operating activities based on the acquired knowledge and skills through the Training andwere trying to disseminate the skills and knowledge However, the fact that only a few people had participated in similar training
courses in their own countries made it difficult for respondents to share the knowledge and skills with others.
(5) Sustainability
The implementing organization, UPM, is an institution of higher learning and, therefore the contents of the training course retain
sustainability However, the training of participants external to the University is not included in UPM's mandate, so sustainability
depends on the policy of the Government of Malaysia and that of UPM.
It is difficult to judge the sustainability of the effects from the training course because of the low response rate However, all nine
respondents answered that they had been trying to disseminate the acquired knowledge and skills, so in some countries, theachievements of the training course appear to be sustainable.

3-2 Factors that promoted realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
The levels of economic development and cultures of the participating countries were similar, and the contents of the training
course were easy to understand and easy to apply in each country.
(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) Compared with the training course conducted from 1998-2000, the qualifications of participants were upgraded because of an
improved method of selection, including early announcement of the Training.
2) The announcement of the third-country training program to participating countries was better than before because the JICA
office, together with the Economic Planning Unit, had implemented the Training in 2001 and requested the Malaysian Ministry ofForeign Affairs to give earlier notice of the third-country training program.
3) The lecturers were sufficiently experienced and knowledgeable as result of the past training course, which contributed toefficient implementation of the Training.

3-3 Factors that impeded realization of effects(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) Several difficulties were observed in the logistics of organizing the training programThe letter of invitation was delivered
through the diplomatic channels of Malaysia or other participating countries This time-consuming procedure left little time forselecting appropriate participants and, as a result, some inappropriate participants were dispatched.
2) Participants did not always actively exchange opinions due to different educational backgrounds and experience.
3) Some participating countries changed participants at the last minute, which necessitated much additional and timeconsuming paperwork.
4) The participants mentioned that the Project schedule was too tight and tiring.
5) The following tasks were not carried out smoothly: Issuing visas, air tickets, and returning the accommodation expenses oftrainees who returned suddenly.

3-4 Conclusion
The Training was implemented successfully as a whole The effects of the training were improved especially from the year 2001
It is mainly because the implementing organizations as well as the JICA Malaysia office were committed to solving all trainingrelated problemsIn addition, the quality of the participants was upgraded with the cooperation of the respective JICA offices
Efficiency, effectiveness and relevance were high; however, impact and sustainability could not be evaluated because thenecessary data were not obtained through the research.

3-5 Recommendations(1) For the smooth acceptance of participants, it is necessary to continuously ask for the cooperation of the Foreign Ministry ofMalaysia and the immigration office with regard to the issue of visas.
(2) It is necessary to continuously ask the financial affairs division of UPM to quickly deliver the training funds.
(3) The feedback system was insufficient for improvement of the contents of the course and approach methods of the Training
The implementing organization mainly evaluated the logistics of the training course but not the substance It is necessary for theimplementing organization to correct these points and to upgrade the Training.
(4) The levels of the trainees should not vary too much in terms of career, experience and English ability.

3-6 Lessons Learned(1) The government of Malaysia has been trying to eradicate poverty for the past 20 years and has attained remarkable results
Malaysia also has experience in women''s empowerment through economical participation Judging from these facts,
implementation of similar third-country training would be appropriate.
(2) The Project was implemented not only with the full cooperation of the Human Ecology Faculty of UPM but also with MARAFoundation (Majilis Amanah Rakyat), Ministry of Rural Development, and Department of Agriculture For effective
implementation of training courses like this, it is important to gain the support of related governmental organizations and NGOs
whenever similar training course activities are underway in the implementing country.
(3) For a meaningful terminal evaluation, the evaluation scheme including the third party''s point of view to ensure objectivity
during a training course should be take into consideration.

3-7 Follow-up Situation
N/A