Development manpower training project (660-0068) : threshold evaluation

Mid-term threshold evaluation covers the period through 5/86 and is based on a thorough document review and interviews with concerned personnel. The project is about a year behind in realizing outputs planned in the 8/85 revision, which extended the project from 4 to 7 years. The Executive Management Committee (EMC) has been established, but is not operating effectively. CENACOF has developed a core of 5 qualified trainers and has a growing reputation as a training institute, but needs more trainers who will also participate in research, evaluation, and consultancies, as well as an increased Zairian cadre of subject matter specialists. CENACOF"s future legal status is still in doubt, and should be settled as soon as possible. The program to train 250 Government of Zaire (GOZ) trainers and 950 development managers is increasingly effective and should be completed by the end of the project. However, there is no evidence that the training of trainers is having a multiplier effect, that CENACOF has helped GOZ technical departments or other development organizations develop their own training services, or that the 3-week seminar for Training of Trainers in Management provides sufficient training. The question of the marketing of CENACOF services urgently requires attention. Also, CENACOF still needs to coordinate Zairian training programs and to develop a systematic training plan for its own staff. Construction of a training center, which was to have begun in 7/85 and which will be financed through counterpart funds (limited to $1 million equivalent), has been delayed by USAID/Z"s doubts about CENACOF"s management and organizational ability. (CENACOF-USAID/Z relations have in general been strained.) No progress has been made on the planned development data base. Experiential methods used in the U.S. Department of Agriculture/CENACOF seminars have been well received and in the long term can significantly improve development project management. However, since this improvement depends on the organizational climate to which the trainee returns, CENACOF should give more attention to organizational training and development both in structuring its training program and in carrying out needs assessments and research. The availability of GOZ financial support (out of P.L. 480 counterpart funds) will be crucial during the next few years as CENACOF endeavors to build its client base and increase user fees.