FINAL EVALUATION OF CERFER; THE REGIONAL ROAD MAINTENANCE TRAINING CENTER AT LOME, TOGO

CERFER'S SOLE AND LIMITED PURPOSE IS TO PREPARE MECHANICS, FOREMEN, AND WAREHOUSE/MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL IN PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR THEIR DAY-TO-DAY JOBS ON SECONDARY ROAD EQUIPMENT. HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS ARE NO LONGER TRAINED AT CERFER. CERFER IS CAPABLE OF TRAINING APPROXIMATELY 160 STUDENTS ANNUALLY AND COULD PROBABLY TRAIN UP TO 180. CERFER HAS A SUFFICENTLY BRIGHT FINANCIAL OUTLOOK TO CONTINUE WITHOUT AID ASSISTANCE. ITS OPERATIONAL BUDGET WILL BE COVERED BY REVENUES FROM THE ENTENTE STATES; ITS INVESTMENT BUDGET FROM NON-ENTENTE STUDENTS FINANCED BY OTHER AFRICAN COUNTRIES, OUTSIDE DONORS, AND, AS NEEDED, BY SERVICES RENDERED. THE TECHNIQUES USED BY CERFER TO ACHIEVE AFRICANIZATION MAY HAVE VALIDITY FOR SIMILAR TRANSFERS OF RESPONSIBILITIES IN ANALOGOUS SITUATIONS. DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD, CERFER GRADUATED 1,370 STUDENTS, 919 OF THEM BETWEEN 1970 AND 1976. WITH MINOR EXCEPTIONS, EVERY IMPORTANT SPECIFIC ACTION PROPOSED IN 1974 AND 1975 HAS BEEN TAKEN: AFRICANIZATION OF CERFER STAFF; EFFECTIVE OPERATIONAL AND BUDGETARY CONTROLS; INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT-USE AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS; REPAIR AND SALE OF USABLE EQUIPMENT; EVALUATION OF THE MOBILE UNIT CONCEPT; REVISION OF COURSES TO MAKE THEM MORE PRACTICAL; AND PROMPT PAYMENT OF CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE ENTENTE STATES. THE EVALUATORS MADE 8 RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SIMILAR PROJECTS IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CERFER'S FUTURE ACTIVITIES AND ADMINISTRATION. THEIR OVERALL CONCLUSION WAS THAT DESPITE FAILURE TO OBTAIN MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE DURING EARLIER YEARS, CERFER -- AT PROJECT END -- REPRESENTS A WORTHY AID ACHIEVEMENT, WHEN COMPARED WITH OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS AND PROJECT OBJECTIVES.