OPPORTUNITIES INDUSTRIALIZATION CENTERS INTERNATIONAL (OICI)

PES covers the period through 5/78 and is based on site visits and interviews with project personnel. The ambitious Togo project, which includes a model farming operation, could become a great success, or another expensive agricultural failure. Land has been cleared at the project site in Notse, 75 acres planted, a dam built, classrooms and service buildings erected, a good staff hired, and support from local citizens and authorities received. Training has begun and good crop yields (maize, sorghum, peanuts, and beans) have been achieved. The project could become a replicable model, but must have more support from the OIC/T board, which has been somewhat aloof and has made few visits to the farm. Activities in Ghana (the longest continuous AID/OICI project) have had a tremendous effect. Ghanaian employees at OIC/Accra and at the national headquarters are experienced, committed, and competent. Successful vocational training in a variety of skills has been provided by active OIC boards in Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi; Accra has placed 638 trainees. OIC has received excellent support from business, industry, and the Government. The latter has provided 3 million cedi for OIC activities; private fundraising has also been fairly successful. There have been numerous requests for new training centers and the OIC student counseling process has been adopted as a model by Cape Coast University. It is essential that the GOG"s training capabilities be well established by project end in 1980. Despite being in its first year, the Liberian project has made considerable progress. About half the trainer positions have been filled by very capable staff and the Government (which feels OIC activities are very much in line with its own development objectives, and, in fact, would like to run the project itself) has donated a 600-acre site in Klay. However, numerous repairs/upgrades are needed at Klay, as well as another site(s) for additional classroom training and staff housing. A key recommendation is that AID/W give more monitoring responsibilities to the respective Missions.