Assessment of Africare/Guinea-Bissau human resource development projects and their relation to the USAID trade and investment promotion support program

Africare has performed well in carrying out both participant training and vocational skills training, although both activities took a long time to get off the ground. The participant training courses gradually evolved to target the private sector, and Africare has worked for the past several years in direct contact with private enterprises without a government counterpart. The courses appear to have been well organized and relevant, the participant selection process was appropriate, and the costs of the courses were reasonable. The vocational training project focuses on the support of two government training centers and their transition to financially sustainable market driven operations. The work at the experimental Community Training Center in Bedanda was particularly successfully in achieving a new orientation on the part of the center's administration. The level and appropriateness of the courses also improved and the center is now meeting an existing demand for training of this type. The activities at the other center, the Experimental Agricultural Training Center in Empada, were less successful, and activities ceased in 3/92. The Tombali project suffered a long delay in initiating activities due to Government resistance in allowing Africare to work directly with private sector associations, without a government intermediary. Nine association trainers are now working with four village-level associations to identify new commercial activities and organize themselves to achieve the desired outcomes. Africare trainers have worked in close collaboration with these groups, providing basic business skills training and other organizational development skills. The groups appear to be positioned to take advantage of market opportunities, although the expansion of economic activities has not yet occurred. The next phase of operations, in which credit will be extended to some of the associations and the number of associations expanded, will be critical for the success of the project. Things appear to be on track, although care must be taken not to move too fast. It appears that Africare's experience and expertise could be very valuable to the TIPS program. The contact with and understanding of the private sector that Africare has acquired through work at the base of the economic pyramid should be tapped by the new program as an input into policy decisions and a reality check for program activities. Africare's experience in organizational development and in providing training for the private sector could also be valuable. It is recommended, inter alia, that Africare expand its activities to work at a higher level, where the multiplier effect will be greater. (Author abstract, modified)