LaKara skills development training

PES covers the period 9/79-6/81 and is based on document review, site visits, and meetings with project personnel and women beneficiaries. Progress during this initial planning phase has been uneven. A socioeconomic survey to provide basic data on agricultural and artisanal economic activities and needs was conducted by the Togolese consulting firm, SOTED, but was of low quality and methodologically unsound, and a nutritional baseline study, although almost complete, suffers from being limited to one ethnic group in a multi-ethnic area. The planned technical analysis of artisanal activities has not been undertaken. Project management has been marked by lack of technical skills among U.S. personnel; unclear lines of authority, responsibility, and accountability; uncoordinated decisionmaking; and inadequate supervision, monitoring, and backstopping by the contractor, the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). These factors allowed a major modification to be made in the construction component - which has so far overshadowed the project"s training objective - without adequate architectural plans, budgeting, or implementation planning. To make matters worse, an unqualified ex-PCV, hired as architect, constructed two large buildings which were condemned after the roof of one caved in. The key recommendation is for a stronger coordinated project management to focus on selecting training activities, e.g., weaving, cloth dyeing, soap making, and basketry. A Project Advisory Committee to assure community support is suggested. It is also recommended, inter alia, that: the NCNW and the Government of Togo modify financial and implementation plans to the satisfaction of the Office of the A.I.D. Representative, which should monitor project implementation; future projects go through USAID/T channels; the project be extended to 3/83 due to delayed start-up; and a qualified sociologist review the SOTED study, further analyze women"s artisanal training needs, and outline concerns and issues to be resolved by villagers.