FINAL REPORT : EVALUATION OF OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTERS, INTERNATIONAL (OICI)

OICI PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR JOB PLACEMENT IN COMMERICAL, INDUSTRIAL, AND AGRICULTURAL OCCUPATIONS. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY BASED ON INTERVIEWS WITH CONTRACTOR STAFF IN BOTH HOME & FIELD OFFICES. ADMINSTRATIVE STAFF QUALITY AND COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN OICI HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED. FEASIBILITY AND DEMAND SURVEYS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED. A SOUND RECORD-KEEPINSG SYSTEM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. OICI'S PROGRAM PROPOSALS ANDGRASP OF ELEMENTS AFFECTING COSTS HAVE ALSO IMPROVED THROUGH TOP AND MIDDLE MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL CHANGES. OICI ENJOYS A GREATER REPUTATION AMONG EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS WHICH HAS RESULTED IN MORE JOB OPENINGS FOR TRAINEES. OICI HAS ALSO RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR TRAINING PERIODS WHICH WILL RESULT IN MORE EMPLOYEES TRAINED IN A SHORTER TIME PERIOD. INITIAL PROGRAMS IN TOGO ARE PROCEEDING WELL WHILE NIGERIA HAS TRAINED 809 AND GHAHA 498. PLACEMENT OF TRAINEES IN GHANA HAS BEEN 100% AND IN NIGERIA, TRAINEE PLACEMENT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT MANY APPLICANTS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER A YEAR TO BEGIN TRAINING. OICI HAS IMPROVED INITIALLY WEAK POLICY GUIDELINES IN DETERMINING COST-EFFECTIVENESS AND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS IN CREATING,DESIGNING,AND DEVELOPING NEW COUNTRY PROGRAMS. SOME FACTORS HINDERING PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS ARE: 1. PREMATURE ESTABLISHMENT OF BASES FOR ANTICIPATED REPLICATION; 2.POOR IDENTIFICATION OF SKILL DEMANDS; 3.FAILURE TO RECOGNIZEDUPLICATION OF TRAINING AT OTHER COUNTRY INSTITUTIONS; 4.INADEQUATE PLANS AND PROJECTIONS; 5.LACK OF OPERATING EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD AMONG TOP OFFICIALS,PLANNERS,AND ANALYSTS; AND 6.THE NUMBER OF TRAINESS COMPLETING TRAINING FALLING SHORT OF GOALS DUE TO STUDENT WITHDRAWALS,UNCERTAIN ARRIVAL OF FUNDING,AND ELECTRICITY SHORTAGES. THE GREATEST NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT IS MORE TIMELINESS IN FILLING VACANT POSITIONS ON A PRIORITY BASIS AND AN IMPROVED RECRUITMENT PROCESS. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO IMPROVE FRENCH LANGUAGE CAPACITY AMONG PROJECT TEAM WHILE ENCOURAGING THE OICI BOARD TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN SHAPING POLICY.