Evaluation of the Cairo University/Massachusetts Institute of Technology technological planning program

Evaluation covers the period 12/76-7/80 and is based on a review of project documentation, site visits, and interviews with CU, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and GOE personnel. The project's hypothesis -- that if tripartite MIT/CU/GOE teams research a developmental problem, a fruitful collaboration in development research between CU and GOE will be institutionalized -- generally proved true although the extent of institutional change varied among research teams. Despite administrative changes in the project participants, the four project targets were accomplished: (1) tripartite research team reports yielded practical results -- eight of the 13 projects have led to at least one action decision in GOE ministries; (2) an estimated 40-50 CU faculty, 230 students, and as many as 350 Ministry personnel received some research-related training; (3) the Development Research and Technical Planning Center (DRTPC), was established as part of CU in 1979; (4) senior ministry and CU officials were made aware of the value of combined research work. Evaluators suggest that MIT, GOE, and A.I.D. develop a 3-year follow-on project to complete the institution-building of the DRTPC. Specific recommendations are, inter alia: that AID/W provide better project backstopping, link DRTPC with the National Technical Information Service, and establish regular liaison between DRTPC and USAID/E; that MIT increase formal training, establish targets for numbers and areas of training, and integrate research management and support into the DRTPC; and that DRTPC increase the representativeness of its board of directors, organize the DRTPC into training, research, and administration functions, and formalize criteria and procedures for project selection and quality control.