AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS TRAINING PROJECT (12/5/79)

EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED THROUGH REVIEW OF PROJECT FILES. PROJECT COSTS HAVE DOUBLED TO APPROXIMATELY $10.5 MILLION. SERIOUS UNANTICIPATED DELAYS IN IMPLEMENTATION AND EXTREMELY LARGE CONSTRUCTION COSTS HAVE OCCURRED. ALSO, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES WERE BROUGHT TO A HALT IN OCTOBER, 1979 WHEN THE TWO-MAN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAM DEPARTED AND THE CONTRACT WITH THE NEAR EAST FOUNDATION WAS CANCELLED. NO PROJECT OUTPUTS HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED: 1)AID SHOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT; 2)AID SHOULD CONSIDER EXTENDING THE PROJECT TO SEPT 1983 OR LONGER; 3)$5.6 ADDITIONAL FUNDING SHOULD BE PROVIDED; 4)AN INTRAMINISTERIAL COMMITTEE OF THE USERS OF CENTERS D"APPRENTISSAGE AGRICOLE(CAA) AND DNFAR SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND SHOULD CONVENE ON A REGULAR BASIS; 5)A NEW CONTRACT SHOULD BE SIGNED WITH A TITLE XII INSTITUTION OR A HIGHLY COMPETENT PRIVATE SECTOR FIRM; 6)THE MISSION ENGINEER MUST DETERMINE IF OR WHEN PLANS AND SPECS FOR M"PESSOBA WILL BE FINISHED, AND IF A PROBLEM EXISTS,THE MISSION SHOULD INSIST ON AN A&E FIRM HANDLING THE WORK; 7)THE MISSION SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN (OPEN) NEGOTIATED CONTRACT FOR M"PESSOBA USING A LIST OF PREQUALIFIED CONTRACTORS; 8)TUSKEGEE SHOULD CONTINUE TO CONCENTRATE ON USER REQUIREMENTS TO BE INCORPORATED INTO CURRICULUM REVISIONS; 8)THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MUST BUILD FROM "WHAT IS IN PLACE"; 9)AN ACTION PLAN INCLUDING AN AID-IBRD LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO NEXT PP.