T-23, Tuesday, January 18, 2005

I slept in a little today, the first real opportunity I have had to take a break from the breakneck schedule I have kept since arriving. The first thing I had on my schedule was the 10 am 2nd GIS Coordination meeting, which was held at the International Water Management Institute, (IWMI).

This meeting went fairly well. It is the last meeting that MapAction will be attending – the last two staffers are leaving this week. I offered my input several times, I hope with a positive effect. The Surveyor General also spoke up more than the last meeting and seemed to have more ownership of the process now, which is really needed with MapAction handing over everything to the Surveyor General’s office. There were also several representatives from the UN today. All in all, the meeting again lasted over two hours.

I had the opportunity to briefly mention to the Surveyor General the possibility of Microsoft assisting in some way with the GIS coordination, but with me leaving town soon, I am afraid nothing will come of it because no one will push the issue.

After the meeting, I went to lunch with Hugh Turral (IWMI), Tod and Sylvie from MapAction, and two of the guys from the 4x4 Club.

The rest of the day I spent running personal chores, doing laundy, etc., the kind of stuff that I has been swept under the rug since I got here. However, I did speak with Brenda Barrett, the USAID-OTI officer in Trincomalee, about the project and what I would be doing. We hope that I can be out there and in place by Monday, even if the project hasn’t started. Brenda tells me that GTZ, German Technical Cooperation agency, needs someone to work with the Government Agent’s office in Trinco in a coordination role, and I might fit the job. I would continue supporting the USAID GIS project as well as serving with the District coordination team. GTZ is interested in having me come out asap and getting to work as soon as possible.