Population studies and research institute of the University of Nairobi : the first four years

Special evaluation covers the period 9/78-6/81 and is based on interviews with PSRI/University of Nairobi students, faculty, and staff. Although many of the recommendations of the 1978 evaluation have not been implemented, the project and the contract with the Population Council (PC) should be extended for 3 years so that key staff may be replaced and trained and so that the PC can continue its valuable contributions to research problem-solving and complete its definitive picture of Kenyan demography. While the recruitment of expatriates and relations with host government ministries have improved, organizational changes are needed to remedy problems related to local and external training and the PSRI research awards program. Although the PC team should be retained to advise the PSRI and help the Kenyan Government design and analyze the 1983 demographic survey and the 1989 census, a Kenyan Deputy Director should be retained to free PC administrative staff from project management. The PSRI Governing Board should take a more active role in developing training and research programs; PSRI"s relations with the University and the Government should be strengthened; PSRI internal administration should be reorganized so as to be more responsive to the professional staff; and research proposal review procedures should be changed. Steps should be taken to assure Kenyans studying abroad of the PSRI"s continued interest and to absorb some of them into the University and/or the PSRI upon their return. Other recommendations are to: upgrade the physical plant (an acute need); revise the curriculum so that less attention is given to formal mathematical approaches and more to research methodology, statistical analysis, and data processing; have the PSRI stress sustantive topics such as mortality, population policy, and the interrelationship between population and development as the number of PSRI-based required courses is reduced and courses in the rest of the university are available.