EVALUATION : ENHANCING S&T CAPABILITIES IN LDC"S

and LDC capability to apply science and technology (S&T) to development problems. Evaluation, which is attached to PES (PD-AAK-005-A1), covers the period 8/77-7/80 and is based on interviews with project personnel and a document review. The implementing agency, the Board on Science and Technology for International Development (BOSTID)/National Academy of Sciences (NAS), provided relevant, high quality services. Ten country workshops were held on topics such as energy development and food conservation; two more are planned. Also, nine seminars were conducted in Washington, D.C. to discuss LDC urban problems, techniques for revegetation, and other issues. NAS"s Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation (ACTI) completed 11 studies, including reports on energy for rural development. To promote S&T development, NAS/BOSTID programs should address broader purposes, and A.I.D. should develop an agency-wide program to encourage greater use of BOSTID"s capabilities. Some specific suggestions are: (1) BOSTID should be expanded to have a larger staff, more frequent Board meetings, and a suitable executive committee structure. (2) An improved financial management system is needed to tie project costs to functions and outputs. (3) NAS/BOSTID needs a formal system to identify and attract S&T experts. (4) Greater use should be made of NAS/BOSTID"s new evaluation system. (5) NAS overseas grant and contracts management procedures should be carefully scrutinized. (6) The production and review of ACTI reports should be expedited. (7) A.I.D. should increase awareness of NAS capabilities among its senior staff, regional bureaus, etc. (8) The design of new projects should be more realistic, and the project paper should be compatible with the contract agreement between A.I.D. and NAS. (9) A.I.D. should more closely cooperate with NAS in planning/implementing projects. (10) To promote more rapid introduction of technological improvements, Missions should make complementary grants, and NAS should provide seed grants to non-A.I.D. nations as well as to a communications institution.