EVALUATION REPORT; THE AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND ITS AID GRANTS

AT THE END OF 1976, THE TOTAL STAFF NUMBERED 322 FROM 28 COUNTRIES AND THE AFDB HAD MADE A TOTAL OF 120 LOANS TO 33 MEMBER COUNTRIES FOR A CUMULATIVE SUM OF 344 MILLION UNITS OF ACCOUNT. THE AFDB IS SERIOUSLY UNDERSTAFFED AND THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE ITS INCEPTION. AT THE END OF 1976, THERE WERE 14 EXPATRIATES ASSIGNED FULL-TIME TO THE AFDB BUT BUDGETED BY THEIR HOME COUNTRY OF AGENCY. THE EXPATRIATES EXTEND THE AFDB'S OWN STAFF AND ITS ADMINISTRATIVE BUDGET; THEY DO NOT HAVE MANAGERIAL ROLES. THE AFDB'S TRAINING EFFORTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MINIMAL DUE TO HIGH TRAINING COSTS AND ITS UNDERSTAFFING PROBLEMS. THE MAIN THRUST OF AID'S PROGRAM WITH THE AFDB HAS BEEN IN THE SO-CALLED REGULAR GRANTS. WORKING RELATIONS WITH AID HAVE BEEN GOOD. AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1976, THE $6,085,000 GRANTED TO THE AFDB FOR THE REGULAR PROGRAM SINCE 1968 HAD RESULTED IN 44,669,021 OF APPROVED EXPENDITURES FOR 17 STUDIES IN 15 COUNTRIES. THE REMAINING $1,415,978 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED BY THE AFDB FOR US EXPERTS, TRAINING, AND THREE MORE STUDIES. THE EVALUATOR DISCUSSED THE IMPACT OF AID'S NEW SECTORAL LIMITATIONS ON ITS REGULAR GRANTS; ON FINANCIAL PLANNING AT THE AFDB; AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS OF AFRICAN NATIONS. HE DISCUSSED THE SPECIAL SAHEL GRANT AND OBSERVED THAT THE PROJECT HAS BEEN REPORTED MOVING FORWARD RATHER WELL IN RECENT MONTHS. IT IS TOO EARLY IN THE SPECIAL LANDSAT GRANT TO MAKE ANY EVALUATIVE COMMENTS. THE EVALUATOR MADE 15 RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING: (1)THE AFDB'S INTERNAL ORGANIZATION AND POLICIES; (2)AID POLICIES AND PROCEDURES VIS-A-VIS THE AFDB AND AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT; (3)THE AFDB'S ROLE IN AFRICAN SELF-DEVELOPMENT; (4)THE LANDSAT STUDY; (5)THE AFDB'S ROLE IN BASIC RESEARCH; AND (6)FUTURE EVALUATIONS OF THE AFDB.