Evaluation of the regional training service agency/Asia contract with the University of Hawaii School of Public Health

Special evaluation covers the period 10/79-4/82 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with personnel of host governments, A.I.D., and the Regional Training Service Agency for Asia (RTSA/A), an office of the University of Hawaii. RTSA/A is for the most part meeting its contractual requirements and will in fact exceed numeric targets for training PAC workers. Although start-up was slow, activity has quickened over the past 8 months as a result of improved administrative procedures; increased acceptance by, and stronger working relationships with, A.I.D. Missions; and a clearer understanding of RTSA/A's role by both RTSA/A itself and host countries. Some 5,000 PAC workers have received in-country, regional, or U.S. training (vs. the 4,000-5,000 specified in RTSA/A's contract). In addition, 885 days of TA have been provided, as a result of which 118 subactivities have been proposed and 58 completed. RTSA/A's planning and evaluation functions are not strong, perhaps because RTSA/A believes that A.I.D.'s priorities do not take into account RTSA/A's field experience. Also, field visits by RTSA/A staff and the amount of in-country TA provided vary greatly from country to country and among staff members, apparently a result of conflicting teaching duties or a too-restrictive travel approval process. Most A.I.D. Missions look positively on RTSA/A. The countries which have learned to use and value the contract - India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Thailand - view RTSA/A as an unduplicated resource, while those which have used RTSA/A services in only a limited way - Bangladesh and Indonesia - see little advantage in continuing the contract. Although considerable other training opportunities exist in Asia, none focus as thoroughly on in-country PAC training and none ensure that capacity building within host country training institutions and units will be linked to PAC workers' needs for pre-service, inservice, and refresher training. It is recommended that the project be extended 2 years, possibly with a different contractor, and with some changes in the scope of work.