Project completion report for program of technical assistance at the faculty of veterinary medicine, University of Nairobi, Kenya

Final USAID/K evaluation covers the entire project period (1971-6/78) and is based on a review of project appraisal reports and the contractor's final report. The project was only partially successful. As planned, Colorado State University (CSU) assigned six qualified personnel to work at FVM, although two positions were held longer than planned,two were held for shorter periods than planned; two other positions not planned at all were also filled. Research projects fell five short of the target of 18; none were undertaken after 1975. Research publications totalled 23, 18 of them authored or co-authored by Kenyans; 16 other papers were not published. Graduate student supervision was sucessful, with 23 students receiving supervision and 18 students sent to CSU for M.S. training. To date, 13 have returned to FVM as lecturers, one has failed, and four are still studying. Unfortunately, limited funds and heavy work loads make it doubtful whether many will continue to the Ph.D. level (one already has). As a result, returned lecturers, who have increased FVM's staff by 400%, are not academically qualified to replace CSU counterparts, and a total of 16 teaching posts remain open. The CSU team fulfilled its educative responsibilities at the undergraduate level, but taught no graduate courses - CSU's most important contractual failure. Four graduate courses were prepared but they were rejected, either because of a lack of student interest or because they were inconsistent with the European graduate system. Two major revisions led to a satisfactory undergraduate curriculum with three courses in the first year, four in the second, and seven in the third and fourth years. The problem of adequate texts and materials remains, but is outside CSU's scope of work. CSU did not supply outside examiners for the project's first 5 years and those that were provided (from CSU) did not advise A.I.D. on the degree of attainment of the project's purpose. This was CSU's second most significant contractual failure.