Agricultural sector implementation project, Nepal

Final evaluation, prepared by an outside consultant, covers the period 8/77-9/79 and is based on document review, visits to project training sessions, and interviews with project personnel and senior-level GON agricultural managers. As planned, a Training Division was established in the GON's Agricultural Projects Service Centre (APROSC) to implement the project. U.S. advisors trained 10 APROSC trainers in the project methodology, which employs an inductive, systematic, problemsolving approach to planning. This methodology was standardized into a 2-week Management Skills Development Program which has been conducted seven times (the last two times by APROSC with minimal outside help) for 114 trainers and agricultural planners and managers (28 from APROSC, the rest from other GON entities); in the process, the original course materials, developed by the Coverdale Organization, England, have been adapted for use in Nepal. Also as planned, a 75-page supplement of successful Nepalese planning and management practices, based on field research and follow-up consultations has been produced; consultations, however, have been largely neglected by the project and there is little evidence that the supplement is being widely used. Further, several factors, including a lack of senior trainers, inadequate publicity (despite several project-related publications by APROSC) and trainer training strategy, ill-defined field research methods/skills, and high costs, limit APROSC's present capability to train mid-level personnel. Participant interviews have confirmed the appropriateness and relevance of the project, especially the planning methodology, the dissemination of which to mid-level government personnel has had a significant impact. By contrast, direct impact on specific problems has been insignificant due to the project's emphasis on methodology over actual problemsolving and the lack of an integrated information/evaluation system. Recommendations are to help APROSC develop a long-range management training strategy and to disseminate project experience in Nepal to other countries.