Population studies and research institute

Evaluation, conducted in 11/85, covered the period 6/76-9/84 and was based on document review and interviews with PSRI, UN, Government of Kenya (GOK), and donor personnel. Overall, the project was very successful. The PSRI is established as an integral part of UN; eight staff members have received overseas Ph.D"s. The staff is of sufficient size, although not optimal, to conduct training and research relevant to Kenya and other areas of Africa. M.A. and M.Sc. programs in population studies have been instituted and 6 cohorts of students, most of whom have completed their studies and theses, have been enrolled. Seminars for GOK officials and others have been conducted and participants have reacted favorably. A substantial amount of research has been completed, most of it relevant to the population situation in Kenya. Valuable and timely TA was provided by the Population Council (PC), which assigned very able staff who worked not only with PSRI but with staff from other departments and agencies. However, much remains to be done if PSRI is to fulfill its promise. PSRI is in need of more space, a better library, more and better equipment, a steady source of funds for student scholarships, improved day-to-day administration, a coherent research plan, regular series of seminars, opportunities for staff to interact with foreign scholars, additional staff in other disciplines, and more interaction with colleagues in other UN departments. While these matters are mainly the responsibility of the GOK and UN, assistance from A.I.D. and other donors in the near future could contribute substantially to strengthening PSRI. Lessons learned show that some project goals were overambitious (e.g., to establish curricula in "at least eight" UN departments). There was an inherent conflict between (1) starting postgraduate courses before sufficient numbers of Kenyan staff were trained; (2) developing a coherent research program; and (3) providing guidance to newly trained researchers for some years so that they could more effectively work alone - and trying to complete all these activities in 7 years. Continuation of TA for a few more years to allow more interaction between PC advisors and newly returned staff would have lessened some of PSRI"s current problems and contributed toward the development of a long-range research plan. Also, the difficulties of working with several UN departments which were not included in project planning, nor slated to receive tangible benefits, were not given adequate attention.