Morocco statistical services project

PES covers the period 9/79-11/82 and is based on site visits and interviews with project and USAID staff. Project outputs are on target and activities carried out were both carefully designed and well executed. The U.S. Bureau of the Census (BuCen) has assisted the DS in questionnaire design, cartography, field and office logistics, data processing, and post-enumeration surveying for both the pilot census of 1981 and the full census of 1982. BuCen has also installed, tested, and trained DS staff in five software packages - COCENTS, CENTS 4, CONCOR, SPSS, and PERT. All but one - PERT, which the DS found unsuitable due to human factors - were successful. Training proceeded well, except in one workshop, where DS staff participants went on strike because they were not recompensed for attending the course. High quality technical reports were prepared, although their translation into French in the U.S. delayed their delivery to DS. A census mapping workshop was also successfully conducted in 9-10/80, somewhat late from the DS perspective. Problems were encountered, however, with the provision of equipment, which was delayed due to conditions imposed by U.S. procurement regulations. Project success is due to the excellent technical skills of BuCen staff and consultants, low BuCen turnover, and good relationships among BuCen, USAID/M, and the DS. In addition to processing and publication of census results, the major work now facing the DS is implementation of intercensal household surveys. It is recommended that BuCen support the DS in this effort and that the project be extended one year to 9/30/85 if necessary. BuCen should also contract outside experts to assist the DS with data analysis and should itself periodically provide refresher courses in data processing, sampling/survey techniques, and general data management operations.