Fish culture

PES covers the period 9/81-12/84 and is based on an attached special evaluation (XD-AAR-411-A). Project implementation only effectively began one and a half years after authorization because of delay in selecting a TA contractor. Other delays - in completing construction of the national training center and rural fish stations, and in recruiting and naming counterparts - indicate that the project as originally designed cannot be completed in the time remaining (although it has already been extended 2 years). Poor management, particularly on the part of the Government of Rwanda (GOR) project director and, to a lesser extent, A.I.D., have further limited achievements. With the recent opening of the fish culture training center, inservice training as well as field follow-up and supervision are being provided to improve extension services. A number of lessons emerge: (1) objectives were over-ambitious and the time schedule unrealistic; projects should start small and expand once their effectiveness has been demonstrated; (2) relationships between the host country project director and the TA team are critical; when they are poor, as here, they can nullify a superior technical effort; (3) construction activities - even using fixed amount reimbursement - are very time-consuming; (4) A.I.D."s system of advancing funds for local costs and reporting on expenditures is time-consuming and delays project activities; (5) the amplified project description is an important point of reference, and should be concise, accurate, and realistic; the rush to obligate adversely affects this requirement for good project management; (6) experiences from an earlier, other-donor project in the same field should have been considered in designing this project; (7) TA contracting takes about a year; implementation schedules should be based on this fact. Key recommendations include to: revise the amplified project description to remove inconsistencies; improve management of local cost funds, as well as management cooperation generally, and A.I.D. oversight; provide management training to the project director; strengthen collection of socioeconomic and fish pond data; and begin production trials immediately.