Final evaluation : Opportunities Industrialization Center, Cameroon

The Cameroon OIC is fully prepared to graduate from its direct dependence on OICI and the original A.I.D. grant arrangement. The institutional and managerial basis for the long-term sustainability of this Cameroonian NGO are now well developed and on a solid foundation. The Cameroon OIC provides quality training, as evidenced by the numbers of its graduates who find employment or meaningful self-employment in these times of economic stagnation. The evaluation team estimates that approximately 80% of Cameroon OIC graduates are employed or self-employed within 6 months of completing the program. The process is well underway of reorienting the Cameroon OIC program so that job creation, in the form of entrepreneurship training and small business management seminars, is given equal or greater weight relative to job placement. This is proving effective in preparing trainees for the tough employment situation in Cameroon, and attractive to donors. The financial future of the institution is precarious, as is the financial situation of just about every institution, public and private, in Cameroon at this time. For the immediate future, the Cameroon OIC is funded by the World Bank National Employment Fund (NEF) grant, and a grant from Bread for the World. A large debt for development arrangement is being negotiated by the International Foundation for Self-Help (IFESH), which, if successful, will support the center in Buea for several years and help start new centers and programs in Yaounde, Douala, and Bamenda. However, both the NEF Grant and the debt swap depend on the availability of large amounts of local currency, which may not be available at the required levels at the required times. The evaluation strongly recommends that the Cameroon OIC's Buea training center continue operating largely as it is, avoiding radical changes in its program content. It would be a mistake to completely close down a training program in skills such as auto mechanics or building construction because of the current lack of employment or on-the-job placement opportunities. As the economy changes, more opportunities will open up for Cameroon OIC graduates. For instance, 2 years ago, there was little construction work to be had, but it has now picked up as people invest what little resources they have in the relatively safe haven of real estate. One might expect that the recent devaluation of the franc could have a positive effect on the auto repair business, as the cost of new cars and parts will double. In any case, Cameroon OIC graduates are as prepared as can be to find employment and self-employment in a changing economic situation. (Author abstract, modified)