REGIONAL REMOTE SENSING FACILITY

This special evaluation, attached to a PES (PD-AAI-475-A1), covers the period 1/79-3/80 and is based on site visits and interviews with representatives of the Governments of Kenya, Botswana, and Tanzania. Four of eight targets have been attained: training programs are underway; a report of short courses has been published; newsletters are being distributed; and remote sensing is being used by several East African states. Regarding the other four goals: a browse file and library are still being developed; the photolab is nonoperational; no African counterpart staff has been hired; and only a few demonstration projects have been undertaken. Because of these shortfalls, outputs for the 1981 evaluation should be revised, with emphasis on hiring four qualified counterparts (especially one for the Facility Director) and augmenting user services by completing the browse file (with added funding for new NASA imagery). Also recommended are completion of the photolab, with specialized training for photolab technicians; elimination of a photo-enhancing device and the Doppler Positioning system and other surveying items; use of existing A.I.D. projects for demonstration projects; and postponement of LANDSAT-D courses, the regional symposium, and a change in the Facility's location. An aggressive campaign by the Facility, the Regional Economic Development Services Office (REDSO), and the Regional Mapping Centre (RMC) to locate new African and non-regional donors is strongly urged. Also recommended are timely Facility reports to REDSO; REDSO/Facility discussions on specific budget outlays; and regular planning and budgeting meetings. Because of the project's serious financial straits, a 2-year extension with increased funding is recommended with the parallel recommendations that the Facility remain an adjunct of the RMC and that Facility operating costs and trainee travel expenses be progressively shifted to RMC and individual African countries respectively.