Evaluation of Alliance for Engineering Cooperation : American Association of Engineering Societies - Egyptian Society of Engineers

Special evaluation covers the period 6/81-5/84 and is based on literature review, visits with engineers in New York and Cairo, and interviews with A.I.D. personnel and others. The Alliance for Engineering Cooperation, composed of the Egyptian Society of Engineers (ESE) and the American Association of Engineers (AAES), was created in June 1981, but has achieved only moderate success. Of three planned seminars, two - on land reclamation and town planning - were held in early 1983; the third was cancelled. The Cairo Center for Continuing Engineering Education (CEC), a major grant component, was established, but is operating on only a limited basis due to a lack of staff; positions for a director and a part-time assistant director are vacant. A modest number of technical books and publications have been acquired for the CEC library and audio/video equipment has been procured. AAES/ESE personnel exchange has been limited; AAES officers made only three visits to Egypt (including seminars), and ESE officers did not visit the U.S. until March 1984, and then at their own expense. Outreach activities especially have fallen short of expectations. The Alliance's poor performance is due primarily to a lack of institutional capacity and motivation/commitment: the ESE has no experience in outreach programs aimed at the practicing engineer, and AAES was not oriented toward managing and administering the grant efficiently. Furthermore, efforts of both parties have been literally part-time. In retrospect, it is apparent that the Alliance was formed without full recognition of the ESE's elite character (it represents only 1.5% of Egypt's practicing engineers). It is recommended that TA be provided to ensure proper installment and use of the audio/video equipment and that CEC operating expenses be covered for one additional year. These actions would give CEC the opportunity to operate as originally intended and would mute any criticisms that might arise from the U.S. and Egyptian engineering communities. The project has demonstrated the necessity of choosing appropriate institutions as implementing agencies and of making adequate staffing a precondition to the provision of assistance. (Near East abstract, modified).