Evaluation report, USAID/Rabat socio-economic research project

Special evaluation covers the period 5/79-10/83 and is based on document review and extensive interviews with USAID/M and Moroccan personnel and with researchers. Due largely to a change in implementation responsibility, the project has become more significant and relevant than originally planned. When internal political and administrative problems at the Rectorate of Mohammed V University, the original implementor, forestalled progress, responsibility was transferred (at USAID/M's insistence) to the newly created National Center for the Coordination and Planning of Scientific and Technological Research (CNCPRST). Under CNCPRST direction, the project - which previously focused on obtaining a series of unrelated research reports - has evolved into an effort to build an institutional capacity for multidisciplinary research coordination. At present, 38 research projects (vs. 60 planned) have been approved for project funding. Of these, 17 are from "Phase I" and should be completed soon, and 21 represent new efforts, 7 of which should end in 1984, 5 in 1985, and 9 in 1986. The majority are long-term research efforts being completed as part of the requirements for B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degrees. The project, if extended, can make a significant contribution to the development and institutionalization of applied research in Morocco. It is recommended that future activities focus on strengthening CNCPRST, rather than merely augmenting or completing ongoing research activities. Lessons learned are: (1) An appropriate institutional context should be defined at the project's outset and kept in perspective as activities evolve. (2) There is too much pressure in development projects to do things on time; waiting until opportunities arise is a legitimate strategy. (3) The value of a project cannot be measured in dollars and cents; many small projects are highly cost-effective. (Near East Evaluation Abstract, modified)