EVALUATION OF THE BANGUI SEMINAR

SEMINAR WAS FOLLOW-ON TO AN INTRODUCTORY SEMINAR ON TECHNIQUES OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT CONDUCTED AT YAOUNDE, CAMEROON, 1/24 TO 9/2/72. LIKE YAOUNDE, BANGUI WAS A FEASIBILITY TEST OF CONCEPTS WHICH MIGHT BE INCORPORATED INTO A LONG-TERM PROJECT FOR TRAINING OF GOVT OFFICIALS FROM 15 FRANCOPHONE COUNTRIES IN PROBLEMS OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT. THE EVALUATION UTILIZED INITIAL AND FINAL QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY THE PARTICIPANTS AS WELL AS PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WHERE POSSIBLE. RESULTS FROM THE PRE-SEMINAR QUESTIONNAIRE CONFIRM THAT THE YAOUNDE SEMINAR WAS SUCCESSFUL. THE PRE-SEMINAR QUESTIONNAIRE ALSO INDICATED MUCH BETTER PREPARATION OF THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE YAOUNDE SEMINAR OVER THOSE WHO HAD NOT. RESULTS OF THE POST SEMINAR QUESTIONNAIRE INDICATE THAT THE BANGUI SEMINAR WAS ALSO A SUCCESS. NO OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS REGARDING BUDGETS, COSTS OR DISBURSEMENTS WERE AVAILABLE DURING THE EVALUATION. HOWEVER, TOTAL COST WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $21,094. WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 15, THE UNIT COST OF THE SEMINAR WAS $1400 PER PERSON FOR A TWO WEEK TRAINING SESSION. SEVERAL ISSUES WERE RAISED ABOUT WHICH DECISIONS MUST BE MADE TO DETERMINE OPTIMAL DESIGN FOR THE PROPOSED PROJECT, "TRAINING FOR PROJECT DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT." THESE ISSUES INCLUDE: 1) ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LATE ARRIVALS; 2) LOGISTICS PROBLEMS; 3) INSTITUTION BUILDING VS "FLOATING;" 4) LONG VS SHORT-TERM TRAINING; 5) ROTATING VS ONE-PLACE TRAINING; 6) THEORETICAL VS PRACTICAL TRAINING; 7) TRAINING OF PARTICIPANTS VS TRAINING OF TRAINERS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALTHOUGH SEVERAL OF THESE ISSUES NEED RESOLUTION, THE PROJECT SHOULD BE APPROVED AND MADE OPERATIONAL WITH A BUDGET OF ITS OWN. EVALUATIONS OF BOTH SEMINARS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LACK OF TRAINED AFRICAN PROJECT MANAGERS AS AN OBSTACLE TO DEVELOPMENT. BOTH SEMINARS TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF THE INNOVATIVE CONCEPT HAVE BEEN TRIED AND HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. FOLLOW-UP EVALUATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE MADE. HOWEVER, MORE ATTENTION SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON TRAINING AFRICANS TO DO OWN EVALS.