Mid-term evaluation : cooperative agreement no. AOT-0488-A-00-2045-00 between International Foundation for Education and Self-Help and United States Agency for International Development

teachers for stays of up to 1 year in 12 sub-Saharan African countries. Interim evaluation covers the period 3/92-1/96. IFESH has made considerable progress in implementing the CA. In general, the Foundation has established a presence in sub-Saharan Africa as an organization capable of implementing development projects. IFESH officials' negotiations with the heads of African governments and of the United States resulted in formal country agreements with Kenya, Nigeria, Gabon, and Benin. IFESH has particularly demonstrated its capacity to initiate and maintain contact at the highest levels of government, and to negotiate and implement programs on the ground. More tangible progress includes establishing a regional office in Nigeria, selecting Country Representatives to facilitate the Teachers for Africa program, and disseminating information concerning the Banker Training program. Under the Teachers for Africa program, which is recognized as important and distinct from the U.S. Peace Corps and programs funded by other multi-national or other bilateral organizations, U.S. teachers have filled nine positions in African countries. The Best and Brightest program has trained 194 mid-level bankers, 25% of whom were women, from 12 countries in some of the most prestigious commercial banks in the United States. Topics covered include accounting, corporate finance, banking analysis, fundamentals of banking, credit analysis, international banking, financial and risk analysis, principles of capital markets, and fundamentals of foreign exchange. Several trainees received important promotions following their training. IFESH has also negotiated and is implementing a Debt for Development program in Nigeria, through which it has leveraged $1.6 million into more than $6 million in local currency. This further contributes to IFESH's reputation as a reliable funding source of local development activities in Nigeria. Not all has gone smoothly, however. Implementation of the Debt for Development program experienced delays in the conversion and transfer of local currencies to subgrantees. Changes in governments, strikes, and other problems have placed great administrative pressures on the Teachers for Africa program. The Best and Brightest program has proven much more expensive than anticipated. And cutting across all IFESH programs are administrative and management concerns that should be addressed in order to reinforce the progress already accomplished. In particular, IFESH must ensure that its management structure is transparent and supports a clear decisionmaking process responsive to its growing overseas needs and responsibilities. (Author abstract, modified)