Livestock feed production and utilization

Audit report covers the period 4/77-9/81 and is based on a review of USAID/T and GOT records. Major project objectives were achieved. Advisors provided technical assistance to the Tunisian Office of Livestock and Pastures (OEP); upgraded the staff of OEP"s Project Integre, a separate entity established to implement the project, through in-service training and periodic seminars; and held numerous demonstrations for small livestock farmers. The GOT provided adequate budgetary support and adopted policies to help sustain increased livestock production. USAID/T adequately monitored and coordinated project efforts and provided needed guidance to U.S. advisors. Problems created by the U.S. technical staff"s lack of capability in French and Arabic were minimized by close cooperation among the technical advisors, the OEP, and A.I.D. Nonetheless, project success is jeopardized by the OEP"s lack of a functional system for monitoring implementation of the project"s numerous technical and adminstrative recommendations, a problem compounded by poor trainee retention. Only (13 of 18 planned) technicians obtained U.S., M.S. degrees (one Tunisian is still working on his degree), partly because the GOT did not pay the technicians during training. Of the 13 technicians trained, only one is still directly associated with the project; another has yet to assume his OEP post, and the other 11, who worked for the OEP for a time, have transferred to other GOT or private or international positions. The participant still in the United States is slated to join another A.I.D. project. While most of $160,000 of commodities needed were obtained and used effectively, 11 SR-60 programmable desk model calculators were erroneously purchased at a cost of $20,000; the needed 11 portable calculators were later obtained for about $270. Efforts to return the SR-60 calculators were unsuccessful, and only one is being used full-time by Project Integre. Recommendations are to establsh follow-up monitoring procedures and to ensure that the SR-60 calculators are made available for A.I.D. or GOT use.