International Executive Service Corps (IESC)

Evaluation covered the period 11/89-6/94 and focused on cost-effectiveness. Results of the evaluation were extremely positive, showing that program effectiveness went beyond expectations. In one particular project, the amount of improved profitability could have paid for the entire IESC Cooperative Agreement. VEs" personable, direct, and practical approach to sharing information enabled clients to benefit almost immediately from the technology transfer. For example, in the DIAB Agricultural Reclamation projects, IESC TA resulted in an increase in reclaimed desert acreage from 160 to 450 feddans, the addition of 200 employees, and an increase from 15% to 36% in grape exports. Services to the American University in Cairo helped the University to develop two new degree programs. TA to MIRACO expanded its air conditioning factory by 50%, increased U.S. imports to over $12 million, and increased sales and exports to Middle Eastern markets. Another client, the Red Sea Hotel, had a short and efficient start-up with major cost savings, and reached break-even in its first year; the hotel generates LE 200,000 a month in profits and employs 300 people. In summary, considering the short time that the VEs spend with clients, their impact has been very significant in the great majority of cases. Costs for IESC"s director and regional director ($35,000 and $27,000, respectively, per annum) are far less than the usual cost of a chief of party ($193,000). Finally, the evaluation found no reason to change either the client contribution formula or spousal travel, the former because the current formula is adequate to the market, the latter because the cost of IESC projects is already low. Major recommendations are to expand the program, which currently operates in Cairo and Alexandria, to other major governorate capitals such as Mansoura and Damietta, and into Upper Egypt, and to find alternative transportation for VEs, who spend as much as 3 hours a day driving and parking.