About the activity

Conducting a thorough Training Needs Analysis (TNA) is of paramount importance when addressing local government reform. The TNA toolkit developed by the Centre of Expertise provides a systematic methodology to analyse contextual background of local administration.

The diagnosis of training needs results from the assessment of competencies of local personnel and the comprehensive analysis of barriers to development. Thus, it helps to identify the discrepancies between the knowledge held by potential training participants and the knowledge which is desirable for some specific reasons.

The TNA activity was implemented in Greece at the beginning of the project, from September to December 2016 with the support of the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government.

 Methodology

This extensive research comprised two components implemented from October to December 2016:

Collection of quantitative data through tailor-made surveys (one addressed to mayors and one web-based conducted among local government units at the municipality level);

Collection of qualitative data through 3 in-depth interviews and 8 focus group discussions with local government representatives (interview guidelines).

The first survey was distributed during regional conferences and meetings of local government leaders. A total of 112 questionnaires were returned, mostly by mayors or individuals acting as deputy mayors. The second survey was performed using the CAWI technique (Computer Assisted Web Interviews), with a questionnaire sent to all local government units at municipal level in Greece. 157 surveys were submitted and other 85 were partially completed.

Finally, 183 questionnaires were qualified for analysis, which represents 56.3% of Greek municipalities.

The information collected fed into the Training Needs Analysis in Greece. Its findings could support a long-term National Training Strategy to raise the standards of training, develop local training capacity within each local authority, introduce modern training methods, and ensure a sharing of training information and materials.

 Acknowledgements

The Centre of Expertise would like to thank all parties involved for their time and efforts dedicated to this unprecedented activity in Greece.