Project assistance completion report : rural development management project (517-0125)

The project established a Center for Administration of Rural Development (CADER) within the Superior Institute of Agriculture (ISA) to implement training programs. CADER staff members were recruited from among the country's leading financial and agribusiness concerns; staff training included 37 short- and long-term courses in agribusiness management, production technology, and other subjects, and 5 observational trips. CADER amply achieved the project's purposes, exceeding planned outputs by 30% in most cases. Specifically, CADER conducted 19 5-week management courses and 54 short courses, held 41 seminars, and prepared 177 case studies. To contribute to its own financial security, CADER also conducted feasibility studies and provided information services and short-term consultancies. In order to attract top echelon personnel, the project offered salaries to CADER staff which were nearly double those of regular ISA faculty. This, along with the abundance of project-funded perquisites afforded the CADER staff, caused resentment within ISA, and CADER salaries were subsequently renegotiated at a lower level. Eventually, the most effective CADER faculty members returned to the private sector. The major lesson learned is that the insertion of a special, externally funded activity into an established institution must address not only the specific project-directed goals, but also the context and needs of the existing institution.