Geological survey : an impact assessment

Ex post impact evaluation covers the period 5/62-7/72 and is based on document review and a survey of Liberians who worked on the project or used its products. The key achievement of this generally successful project was the transfer of U.S. technology to Liberia, resulting in a systematic determination of the location, characteristics, and extent of Liberia's natural resources. The project also produced good base maps and aerial photographs and geophysical data which have been useful in public and private exploitation programs. Especially significant were development of standardized documentation for presenting field data; a U.S.-Liberian program to determine the geochronology and correlation of rock units; and establishment of a professional Geological, Mining, and Metallurgical Society, which has, however, generally been inactive since the project's end. The project's main organizational achievement was the structuring of the Liberian Geological Survey (LGS) after the pattern of the U.S. Geological Survey, complete with all laboratory and technical apparatus. This led to the restructuring of several other existing Liberian services after the U.S. pattern. Socially, the project's main impact was the overseas geology training provided to 14 Liberians, ranging from short courses to B.S. programs; two others received M.S. degrees. The project also promoted awareness of potential careers in mineral science among high school and college students and exchanges between U.S. and Liberian professionals. Negatively, training should have been scheduled so as to allow returning trainees time to provide input to the project and administrators should have been trained to allow geologists to concentrate on their areas of expertise. Also, project objectives were too ambitious, given the limited implementation time and the paucity of accessible roads, TA, base maps, etc., and more emphasis should have been placed on institutionalizing systems (the project design's failure to foresee the slower-paced, Third World approach was detrimental in this regard). Finally, TA should have been phased out slowly to ensure the continuation of project activities.