Development training for Portuguese - speaking Africa

Evaluation covers the period 11/78-10/80 and is based on a review of African-American Institute (AAI) contractor reports and a 11/78 special evaluation and on meetings with AAI personnel. Long-term training was or is being provided to 76 students from Cape Verde, 167 from Guinea-Bissau, 23 from Sao Tome/Principe, and to 37 students from Angola -- a total of 332 students (170 of whom have completed training) versus the target of 435. An in-country training program for 30 teachers in Cape Verde was also supported. Because the Government of Mozambique declined to participate in the project and because the U.S. Congress terminated all aid to Angola one year into the project, relatively more students were trained from the other participating countries. Only 20% of trainees were women. Although it was planned that 80% of the students would be trained in Africa, language, political and curriculum limitations resulted in 177 students being trained in the United States, 107 in Portugal, 3 in Brazil, and only 45 in Africa, thereby increasing per-pupil cost. The topics chosen for study--agriculture (28 students), health (29), economics/planning (36), business/accounting/secretarial (65), education (61), fisheries (23), and engineering/technical (90)--indicated broad compliance with the goal of meeting immediate manpower needs in priority areas. However, the evaluators recommend that future training stress agriculture, health, and other fields more closely related to the needs of the poor majority. It is recommended that A.I.D.: (1) extend the final year of obligations to FY83 and provide an additional $2.9 million to fund completion of training for 162 participants: (2) along with the AAI, assist Angolan students to find jobs in Africa if their return to Angola is not feasible; and (3) amend the African Manpower Development Project (6980384) to provide training programs for Portugese-speaking countries.