Professional Training 

McCO uses proven instructional design and cross-cultural communication methods to develop bespoke, dynamic, and responsive training programs that effectively build and transfer critical skills to change makers around the world.

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McCO understands that adults acquire and retain knowledge in a variety of ways, and have honed an andragogical approach to instructional design that ensures the technical expertise and life experiences of our adult learner course participants is utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the learning environment. McCO's training and capacity tool kit includes blended learning approaches, instructor-led (synchronous) and self-guided (asynchronous) learning, utilization of exercises, case studies, flipped classrooms, capstone projects, and other methods for ensuring adult learners stay engaged and retain the knowledge being transferred.  

​Our team of recognized, multidisciplinary instructors come from academia, policy, and technical posts and leverage their knowledge and experience as trainers, facilitators, and curriculum developers to assist clients to strengthen the capacity of organizations to fulfill their missions. We work intensively with the client to conduct needs assessments, fine tune the learning approach, and then design curriculum and dynamic teaching methods that will ensure knowledge transfer and retention. Our in-house project management teams are experts at effective and cost efficient management and administration of complex and large-scale federal training programs.

McCO regularly delivers live instructor-led (ILT) and virtual instructor-led (VILT), eLearning, and online delivery of training programs with the ability to adapt and move between the two approaches rapidly, based on the evolving needs of our clients.

Victoria McColm

Managing Director

Contact Victoria to learn more about McCO's Professional Training and Capacity Building Services

CONTACT

Applications

Professional Training

• Administrative and Logistical Management of Professional Training Programs
• Area Studies and Foreign Area Officer Training
• Mentoring, Coaching, and Exchange Programs
  
• Honoraria Management Systems
  
• Needs Assessments and Gap Analysis
  
• Learning and Instructional Design (ISD)
  
• Curriculum Development and Review
• Course and Instructor Evaluations (Kirkpatrick and other methods)
• Learning Management Systems (LMS)
• Section 508 Compliance
• Graphics, Video, and Web Production

Capacity Building

• ​Embedded Technical Advisors
• Mentoring, Coaching, and Exchanges
• Internship and Mentoring Programs
• Workforce Development Programs
• Management Skills Development Programs
• Technical Skills Development Programs
• Vocational Skills Development Programs

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Insights and Case Studies

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Select Projects and Results

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

• Manage, design, and deliver Area Studies training to U.S. diplomats and foreign affairs professionals throughout the U.S. federal government. McCO manages a complex portfolio of nearly 125 five and ten day courses per year covering five regions of the world and a range of thematic issues, seminars, and other programs.
• Provide administrative and logistical management to a portfolio of virtual instructor led (VILT) training programs for the USDA's International Institute of Tropical Forestry in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Bilingual services are provided in English and Spanish.
• Designed and delivered modules and exercises on strategic foresight, training on U.S. national security challenges in the next thirty years to U.S. diplomats and interagency leaders with national security portfolios for the U.S. State Departments National Security Executive Leadership Seminar (NSELS)​​
• Managed, designed and delivered the State Department's flagship Afghanistan Familiarization training course for seven years. The course was mandatory for all USG personnel assigned to Embassy Kabul under Chief of Mission and included intensive and interactive training in the culture, politics, economy, and customs of Afghanistan.​

CAPACITY BUILDING

• McCO designed and implemented the business matchmaking strategy to build the capacity of Afghan businesses attending the Passage to Prosperity Central Asia International Trade Show, the Passage to Prosperity India Afghanistan International Trade Show, and other industry trade shows that resulted in significant deals and agreements to secure long term sourcing relationships for Afghan vendors exporting products in home décor (carpets/handicrafts), fashion (textiles/embroidery), and gemstones and jewelry. The project was completed as a subcontract for USAID Afghanistan.
  
• McCO designed vocational training curriculum that could be successfully delivered to illiterate women in Iraq (Erbil and Dohuk) on local market dynamics and assessed the skills of internally displaced Yezidi and Arab women at three IDP camps in Northern Iraq. The team then oversaw the rollout of a capacity building program in Iraq, which focused on artisanal craft skills and developing a branded line of products for export.​
• ​Built the capacity of a local NGO in Iraq working to provide humanitarian aid to Yezidi women and children and conduct robust international advocacy work on Yezidi issues at the UN and major governments. Engaged diaspora groups to support advocacy efforts.​​​
• ​Facilitated and supported a local membership organization formed to support female entrepreneurs to develop and execute a long term strategic advocacy plan.