Project assistance completion report : urban sector technical assistance

The project had a positive impact on the Building Department, providing TA, training, furniture, and equipment as well as decreasing the level of faculty turnover. The two long-term lecturers who implemented the TA component provided valuable services, including the drafting of the curriculum for the newly established School of Architecture and the establishment of a soils and materials laboratory at the Building Department. This lab is unlike any other in the English-speaking Caribbean and will provide valuable opportunities for research and practical experience. On the negative side, a summer institute for construction industry professionals had only limited success, since most professionals found it impossible to leave their practices for a week to two weeks. Additionally, plans to establish a professional services unit, which would seek opportunities for the Building Department to provide work for fees, were not fulfilled due to numerous problems, such as the lack of staff time, problems of liability, and organizational constraints. Training activities were highly successful. Two persons who received long-term U.S. training are now full-time lecturers at CAST. In-service workshops for building inspectors were well supported and are continuing. Four lecturers also attended short seminars and conferences in the United States and various Caribbean countries. Several lessons were learned. (1) CAST has a clear vision of where it is heading and has the capacity to use foreign assistance to its best advantage in meeting its own goals. (2) Not all activities proposed by donors and administration are perceived as being in CAST's best interests; project planning could benefit from wider involvement of CAST staff members. (3) CAST's high-quality staff, equipment, and operational strategies provide tremendous potential to earn additional revenue from outside resources. (4) External assistance can help an institution continue its pursuit of long-term development during a period of economic recession. (5) Staff training programs can effectively support staff recruitment. (6) Since the CAST staff is not totally Jamaican, A.I.D. funding conditions may reduce the effectiveness of proposed staff development programs.