Centro de Investigaciones Tecnologicas y Cientificas (CENITEC)

The evaluation covered the period FY87-9/89. Although CENITEC is strongly identified politically with PDC (unidentified acronym), its outreach activities are generally viewed as impartial and are managed in a technical rather than a political fashion. In general, CENITEC enjoys a positive image among leaders in many sectors of Salvadoran society. Its journal, PRESENCIA, is generally respected and has a substantial circulation. The Center"s monthly seminars facilitate discussion of timely and appropriate themes, and weekly charlas increase CENITEC"s visibility and credibility and provide a means of information dissemination. While CENITEC is also supported by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, there appears to be no serious incompatibility between the two funding sources. The TA component was suspended, largely due to poor relations between the PDC and the governing party ARENA. There is virtually no possibility of any early resumption of the component. Nonetheless, continued USAID/ES support for CENITEC"s outreach activities is recommended. Three major lessons were learned. (1) An internal evaluation should be conducted prior to an external evaluation to force the institution to consider its own strengths and weaknesses and provide a body of data for the external evaluators. (2) It is possible for a politically affiliated institution in El Salvador to develop a reputation for objective, impartial outreach programs. (3) The development of a think-tank institution is much more complex than constructing physical facilities and requires a correspondingly longer timeframe.