PROJECT MANAGEMENT TRAINING (CAFRAD)

PROJECT PURPOSE WAS TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE CAPABILITY OF AFRICAN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO TRAIN AND CONSULT IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION. EVALUATION IS BASED ON PROJECT OFFICER"S VISIT TO CAFRAD HEADQUARTERS. DESPITE AID"S SUPPORT, WHICH HAS BEEN VITAL TO ITS EXISTENCE, CAFRAD HAS HAD SERIOUS PROBLEMS. THERE HAS BEEN A FINANCIAL CRISIS, PRECIPITATED BY FAILURE OF MEMBER STATES TO PAY THEIR DUES AND BY ANTICIPATED TERMINATION OF SUPPORT FROM THE UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (UNDP). THIS HAS LED TO A CURTAILMENT OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, THE RESIGNATION OF THE CENTER"S DIRECTOR HAS LED TO A DIVIDED AND CHAOTIC ADMINISTRATION IN THE AREAS OF FINANCE, PERSONNEL, TRANSLATION, CONFERENCES, SECRETARIAL AND MAINTENANCE. THE SITUATION HAS RECENTLY IMPROVED. UNDP WILL CONTINUE ITS SUPPORT BOTH IN MANAGEMENT AND FOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND CAFRAD HAS HIRED AN EXPERT TO REVIEW ITS ADMINISTRATION. THERE IS 1 CHANGED AND 1 ADDITIONAL INPUT: CAFRAD WILL HIRE 2 DOCUMENTALISTS INSTEAD OF 1 TO ASSIST IN THE PUBLICATION OF PROJECT EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND FUNDING FOR 1 YEAR HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO ENABLE CAFRAD TO PRODUCE THE 12 MONOGRAPHS ORIGINALLY TARGETED FOR USE AS TRAINING MATERIALS. AS OF 3/79, OF 15 TARGETED SUB-REGIONAL TRAINING UNITS, 9 HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. TRAINING HAS BEEN GIVEN TO 40 OF 60 TARGETED TRAINING DIRECTORS AND 850 OF TARGETED 3,400 HAVE RECEIVED TRAINING AT THE SUB-CENTERS. IN ADDITION, CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH COUNTRIES WHO WILL BE SUBJECTS OF THE MONOGRAPHS, 24 CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS HAVE BEEN HELD, AND A WORKSHOP FOR SPECIALISTS IS PLANNED IN TANGIERS. CAFRAD MUST PRESS FOR PAYMENT OF DUES AND ENCOURAGE NEW MEMBERSHIP. AN EVALUATION SYSTEM TO ASSESS PERFORMANCE OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS IS ALSO RECOMMENDED. DESPITE DOUBTS ABOUT CAFRAD"S ABILITY TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT, PROJECT AMENDMENT WILL RECOMMEND 2-YEAR PROJECT EXTENSION. THIS, ALONG WITH ALTERED INPUTS NOTED ABOVE, SHOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO REVISED PP.