Internal project review : United States Agency for International Development technical assistance and training project; science and technology cooperation program between the Portuguese Junta Nacional de Investigacao Cientifica e Technologica (JNICT) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)/National Research Council

Internal evaluation covers the period 2/82-85 and is based on document review and responses to a questionnaire mailed to program participants. The program has established itself as being a quality activity. Seven in-country workshops have been conducted, with 234 Portuguese and 31 NAS/NRC participants; 26 Portuguese fellows have visited or studied in the United States; and 7 advisors have worked in Portugal with research institutions. Positive signs of program impact emerged repeatedly in responses to the participant questionnaires. JNICT participants are utilizing ideas, techniques, and knowledge gained through the workshops, and, in the case of the fellows, through specially-designed training programs. Credit for the progress and success of the program is due to the Portuguese leadership, the performance of the NAS, and to good Portuguese-USAID/P cooperation and flexibility in quickly addressing project challenges as they arose. JNICT"s ability to identify key individuals in promising areas of development has also contributed to the success of the program. It is recommended that the program be continued, even if A.I.D. support is not continued. Other recommendations include: (1) encouraging follow-up meetings for identification and design of key industrial development projects; (2) relaying the recommendations of the program;s final workshop to high-level policymakers; (3) distributing draft summaries of workshop findings and recommendations to all participants and to relevant key institutions and policymakers; (4) emphasizing JNICT"s leadership in R&D and utilizing it to explore program modes other than formal workshops and to accelerate private sector development; (5) establishing and/or expanding professional societies and other human resource development mechanisms; and (6) providing certificates of accomplishment to the fellows.