Interim evaluation : agricultural management development project

Special evaluation covers the period 8/80-10/83 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with USAID/E, MOA, and CAMD personnel and with current and former trainees. While progress has been satisfactory and MOA/CAMD support enthusiastic, CAMD will have to significantly increase its training capacity if MOA middle management training targets are to be met. Since 1978 1,158 middle managers (vs. a target of 2,000) from 13 governorates (vs. a target of 8) and 2 public sector farming organizations have attended 46 basic, advanced, and workshop courses; 64 women have also been trained (all except 9 have attended courses at the governorates due to cultural prohibitions which prevent coeducational residence at CAMD). The revised, 3-week, basic course is taught in Arabic and stresses problem-solving, communications skills, Egyptian agricultural case studies, etc.; a CAMD organizational development unit has been formed and is currently gathering information on MOA management problems in 2 public sector farms to be used in designing future courses. Training has been well-received by trainees; MOA supervisors of former trainees have been satisfied as well. CAMD staff training has included long-term overseas programs for 12 (of a targeted 45) participants and 6 short-term courses conducted at CAMD by Egyptian consultants; none of the planned short-term U.S. training has been provided. Finally, dormitory and classroom buildings have been completed and plans made for construction of a learning resources center, cafeteria, and expanded audiovisual facility. Despite these accomplishments, CAMD has been hampered by an overall shortage of well-trained staff. As a result, the research and evaluation unit has been unable to carry out its course development and evaluation functions (the advanced course in particular needs revision as it is merely a review of the basic course); and the planned individualized trainee follow-up consultations have been replaced by group workshops. Ten recommendations are given.