Ivory Coast urban sector evaluation of BNEC TA

Evaluation covers the period 6/76-6/78 and is based on site visits, a review of project documents, and interviews with USAID/IC, project, and Government of Ivory Coast officials. Overall, the technical assistants (TA's) have performed their tasks competently and effectively. However, assistance was limited almost exclusively to BNEC's activities as a manager of government resources; little attention was given to BNEC's banking activities. Furthermore, counterpart (CP) training, a major project objective, did not proceed on schedule due to the BNEC Director General's (DG) lack of commitment; the lack of a clearly defined training program for each TA and his CP; and in some cases, poorly designated, motivated, or qualified CP's. Although the TA assigned to the Financial Department has made a valuable contribution, he is doing so without CP training; his time was primarily occupied by tasks delegated by the DG (e.g., planning BNEC's current and future financial needs); and his capability has been stretched by assigning him the responsibilities of the Savings Department TA. It is recommended that a separate TA be assigned to the Savings Department to design and implement a savings mobilization campaign and a lending program and also to decrease the work load of the Fiancial Department TA. The BNEC Technical Department (TD) has had three TA's over the life of the project, although the incumbent serves without A.I.D.'s concurrence. The first two TA's made positive contributions to the definition and execution of technical staff tasks but slowdowns occurred as each new TA began work. Because the TA for the Credit Department was assigned only in 1/78, it is too early to evaluate his work. Thus, to improve CP training it is recommended that all BNEC Departments better define TA and CP responsibilities; establish a program to shift responsibilities from TA's to CP's; and regularly evaluate TA and CP performance.