Audit of USAID/Guinea"s education sector reform program

Audit report covers the period 1989-9/94. Progress on the program"s nonproject assistance has been good. The GOG met and in some cases exceeded the conditions established for the first three cash transfers. Specific program results include the following: (1) primary school enrollments have increased by 125,000 (36%); (2) enrollment of eligible, school-age girls has increased from 18% to 26%; and (3) rural enrollments have increased by 12.6%. Each result exceeds the target set. Progress on project assistance has also been good. The level of staff and organizational performance of the Ministry of National Education (MNE) has increased through improvements to the budget preparation process. It is difficult to apportion responsibility for the program"s success, since it is a multi-donor effort, in which several conditions precedent were shared by USAID and the World Bank. It should also be noted that the ultimate success of the program depends on the GOG"s ability to maintain educational standards once outside funding ends. Three specific problem areas were noted. (1) Cash transfers were to be used by USAID to repay debts owed by the GOG, but debt payments made from the second and third cash transfers did not begin until several months after the conditions had been met and in some cases after their required due date, thus incurring late interest penalties of over $64,000. (2) Due to inadequate donor coordination between the French Aid and Cooperation Fund and USAID in outlining a specific plan, the MNE"s personnel files have still not been automated. (3) Although the MNE"s Financial and Administration Office was computerized, $30,000 worth of spare computers and parts are being stored against a wall in a room where many people have access. Recommendations were made regarding these issues.