Mid-term evaluation of regional rural development training; (PAID) Pan African Institute for Development

Special evaluation covers the period 1978-79 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews of former trainees. PAID is achieving project outputs and is making excellent progress toward fulfilling the project purpose. Decentralization is being effected through the establishment of regional institutes in Ouagadougou, Upper Volta and Kabwe, Zambia to supplement those in Douala and Buea, Cameroon; PAID's Secretary General will soon relocate from Switzerland to Duoala. Training targets have been both over- and under-achieved, reflecting each institute's search for the proper balance between long- and short-term training. The Douala institute was on target with long-term training (71 of 75), behind but improving in short-term training (125 of 560), and ahead of schedule for seminars (449 rather than 360 participants). Field projects (3 of 8), case studies (8 of 32), and nine technical assistance (TA) projects (9 versus 6) are satisfactory. The Buea institute is close to targets in both long-term training (114 of 134) and short-term training (12 of 30) and ahead in seminars (302 versus 250 attendees). Little was done on field projects and case studies, but TA projects were adequate. Long-term training has not begun at the Ouagadougou institute, but targets for short-term training and seminars were exceeded (411 versus 304 participants), 19 training programs were conducted in six countries, and consultations and TA were double targets. The Kabwe institute, established after the project paper was written, carried out a variety of short-term courses and seminars in East Africa and eight consultations in Malawi, Kenya, and Botswana. Finally, PAID's Central Program Support Service (SCAP), in Douala, conducted six seminars and performed well in evaluating the regional institutes; SCAP information dissemination efforts are weak. A total of 33 recommendations are made regarding PAID's need to strengthen personnel management; improve SCAP's activities; charge fair and uniform fees; begin long-term training at Ouagadougou; and follow-up on former trainees.