Masai livestock and range management project; completion of project report

Project completion report covers the period 1969-1982; no methodology is given. None of the outputs expected prior to the major revision of the project in 1976 were accomplished nor were they likely to have been in time allotted. Since 1976, accomplishments have been minimal. The project was constantly amended - receiving additional funding and inputs and being assigned the task of achieving more numerous and complex outputs and purposes - throughout the 1970's. Among the reasons for poor project performance were poor coordination between the GOT and expatriate technicians, lack of leadership on the part of the expatriate project coordinators, a vague project purpose, and poor USAID/T support. The most severe shortcomings were the absence of baseline data collection and poor project monitoring. Nonetheless, some accomplishments were made: 36 dams were constructed and 12 others repaired; 30 wells and 60 dips were built; 22 rural veterinary centers were completed and staffed, although not fully equipped; 28 GOT personnel, including six Masai speakers, received overseas training and returned to work for the GOT in the Arusha Region; and a rural training center was completed and brought into operation at Monduli. Since the project ended, some contributions from the project have remained. A majority of borehole and other heavy equipment and the dips are still functional and being used. The veterinary centers and the Masai workshop in Arusha are still in use but are understaffed and undersupplied. Among the lessons taught by the project are that foreign-made equipment should not be imported without a large supply of spare parts; project design should reflect inherent trends and feasible objectives; modernizing the pastoral system is possible but requires simultaneous improvement throughout the system; and high risk projects should include fall back objectives which still convey substantial benefits.