Evaluation : African American Labor Center field programs

Special evaluation covers a period ending 3/82 and is based on site visits and meetings with local union and with USAID and U.S. Embassy officials. Success has varied. In Zaire, the Union Nationale des Travailleurs du Zaire (UNTZa) fell short of achieving AALC goals due to its close supervision by the government, although it advanced socioeconomic well-being and mediated disputes between strikers and the government. UNTZa's AALC-supported social service programs in primary health care, labor education, and maternal/child health care were its most successful activities. AALC's close ties to the U.S. Embassy and USAID/Z risks compromising AALC's independence, but may be needed to maintain AALC's role in Zaire. In Liberia, the AALC played a significant role in the 1980 merger of two rival unions into the Liberian Federation of Trade Unions (LFLU), but its promotion of LFLU goals has been limited by deteriorating economic conditions, labor unrest, and LFLU's financial and organizational inadequacies. Both USAID/L and the U.S. Embassy strongly support AALC, but neither are sanguine about LFLU's future and so advocate a broadening of AALC's union contacts. In Senegal, the offical trade union, the Confederation Nationale des Travailleurs du Senegal (CNTS), has shown little interest in worker education programs or independent union activity due to its close political ties. An ll/81 agreement between AALC and CNTS provided for renewed bilateral activities but none were initiated. Although both AALC and USAID/S supported establishment of a Regional Institute for Higher Trade Union Education, lack of a bilateral program and of a vital trade union movement limit AALC's relation to USAID/S and the U.S. Embassy. General recommendations are to: independently evaluate AALC activities; reexamine the Liberian and Zairian programs and AID-AFL/CIO activities in LDC's; decentralize AID-funded AALC activities; reduce LFLU staff and audit its finances; and develop a closer AALC-U.S. Government working relationship on African labor affairs. An appendix provides the AALC's critique of the evaluation.