Dominican Republic : an assessment of USAID returned participants in the agricultural sector

Evaluation covers the period 1967- 1989. During the period under review, A.I.D. provided over 400 scholarships for academic training (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.) in agronomy, agricultural economics/agribusiness management, and other areas of agriculture. The training has resulted in genuine benefits to both participants and institutions. On average, graduates' real salaries have increased 5-10% upon return (except that the increases have been 30-40% for those who did not return to their sponsoring institutions. Many former trainees have held important posts in government (three have been Secretary of Agriculture) and private enterprise. Of the institutions employing participants, more than 90% have noted significant increases in the quality of their work and two-thirds believe they are benefitting from skills and knowledge gained through training. Academic institutions have made the most efficient use of their graduates, as measured by retention rates and diffusion of graduate skills throughout the organization. Of public sector institutions, those in the services sector have made the most efficient use of graduates. Although many graduates have migrated out of public sector institutions, over 80% continue to work in the agriculture sector, primarily in agribusiness. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries of the training have been the private for-profit enterprises (both national and international corporations and firms) -- 32% of the graduates are now working in these firms, providing them with a highly skilled labor force trained at public expense. The programs have been less beneficial for women than for men. Women have made up only 12% of participants and have earned lower salaries upon return. Moreover, women seem to have limited opportunities to change jobs and tend to remain in institutions that use their skills less efficiently, possibly due in part to a lack of an effective network of contacts. Participant support services need to be improved. Pre-departure orientation and post-training follow-up are inadequate, and more opportunities for continuing education should be provided to help participants keep up to date with their fields of specialization.