EVALUATION OF SEADAG, PHASE 1 : ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO ALL AID ACTION OFFICERS FOR SEADAG PANELS, THE PRINCIPAL PARTICIPANTS IN SEADAG SEMINARS FROM VARIOUS OFFICES IN THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BUREAU, THE ASIAN COUNTRY DESK AND THE MISSIONS. REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONNAIRES INDICATE THAT SEADAG SHOULD BE CONTINUED FOR THE SECOND YEAR AND FUNDED AT A LEVEL COMMENSURATE WITH ITS IMPROVED PROGRAM FOCUS AND MANAGERIAL CAPABILITY.AID OFFICIALS NOW CONSIDER THE PLANNING FOR SEMINARS SATISFACTORY, THE NEW SEADAG SECRETARIAT COMPETENT TO EXECUTE ITS FUNCTIONS EFFECTIVELY, AND THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH FUNDS INTO SEPARATE SEADAG AND AID-CONTROLLED RESEARCH PROGRAMS SATISFACTORY. SOME PROBLEMS REMAIN, WITH THE MAJOR ONE BEING THE QUALITY OF AID PARTICIPATION IN SEADAG SEMINARS. WHILE THERE WAS SOME EXCELLENT AID PARTICIPATION IN ALL SEMINARS AND PLANNING SESSIONS HELD THIS PART YEAR, IT HAS NOT REACHED A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH LEVEL FOR ALL AID PARTICIPANTS. THE PRIMARY COMPLAINT VOICED BY BOTH AID ACTION OFFICERS AND ACADEMICS IS THAT AID STAFF TEND TO OBSERVE RATHER THAN PARTICIPATE AS ACTIVE CONTRIBUTORS IN THE SEMINAR. MAJOR CHANGES INCORPORATED INTO THE REVISED AGREEMENT, EFFECTIVE 10/1/70 INCLUDE: 1) GRANTING OF NEAR AUTONOMY TO SEADAG IN OPERATING ITS PROGRAMS; 2) DIVISION OF RESEARCH FUNDS INTO 2 PROGRAMS: ONE UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE CONTROL OF SEADAG -- EXCEPT FOR THE AMBASSADORIAL VETO, THE OTHER UNDER THE EXCLUSIVE CONTORL OF AID; 3) THAT THE DROPPING SEADAG MEMBERSHIP BE REPLACED BY PARTICIPATION BASED ON WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME AN ACTIVE AND CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL ROLE IN SEADAG PLUS POSSESSION OF SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND/OR COMPETENCE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA DEVELOPMENT; 4) AGREEMENT THAT AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF THE SEMINARS WILL BE AID PROGRAM ORIENTED; 6) EMPHASIS ON CAREFUL PRE-SEMINAR PLANNING AND; 7) UPGRADING THE SECRETARIAT TO CARRY OUT THE PLANNING, ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE CONDUCT OF MEETINGS.