The Fund also enables universities and other institutions to become centres of excellence and upgrade the tuition they offer by appointing academic and technical specialists. In 1993-95, for example, it helped five universities in Africa and the Caribbean to run applied Masters courses through collaboration with other Commonwealth universities. Expertise on tap Shortage of skills is one of the biggest stumbling-blocks facing countries trying to raise the living standards of their people. Providing experts accounts for about one-third of the CFTC's budget. Because its assistance is relatively small and carefully targeted, it avoids the potential waste associated with larger scale projects and poor technical planning.
Experts can be in place within three or four weeks of project approval.
The expertise requested is extremely diverse, from hydrography and agro-forestry to tourism, statistics, legal affairs, health, social planning and computer science. Assignments for short-term experts can range from a few days to six months. Their role is advisory, helping governments to introduce new systems or technologies. Experts assist in the development and implementation of policies or in the provision of managerial skills and the training of counterpart staff to take over in due course. Some long-term experts are trainers in specialist fields.