Regional remote sensing, West Africa, project 698-0420 : final evaluation report

Final external evaluation covers 1978-86 and is based on visits to 12 of the 15 CRTO member countries and interviews with involved personnel. The project"s main contribution has been in training Africans in remote sensing technology and its applications. In all, 221 Africans have received training, 75% in French. Training is arranged in two 3-month courses, an introductory course and an advanced, applications-oriented course. About half of those who complete the introductory course continue to the next level. Most trainees return to the government agencies that sent them, and about 25% are believed to be actively utilizing the training. A common criticism is that the training is too short and not specialized enough. The user assistance program, a major objective of the project, has been plagued by limited staff and financial resources, limited availability of remote imagery, lack of TA since 1982 due to contractual problems, and the inevitable problems faced when a regional institution is asked to work on country-specific problems. Most activities have, as a result, been limited to Burkina Faso. CRTO"s library/archives need reorganizing and refurbishing; its photo lab, while basically well-housed and equipped, has suffered from managerial and maintenance problems, and more serious, delays in recruiting an African manager. The Center has helped expand the understanding of remote sensing in the region, although information dissemination exclusive of the training program has been slight. The Africanization of CRTO staff has proceeded well, but the Africanization of its finances is more difficult to measure; the probability is that contributions from participating nations will decline, while operating expenses will increase. CRTO"s management tends to be hierarchical and compartmentalized, which has negative effects on staff morale. Despite high-quality TA, the project has been adversely affected by (1) contract problems during a period (1982-84) of A.I.D. indecision as to the project"s future and (2) ambiguity as to who at A.I.D. (Mission or Bureau) is charge of field implementation; (3) its fairly low priority within A.I.D. The project teaches that: (1) the effectiveness of TA depends as much on continuity and management as on technical quality; (2) regional programs may be a good way to introduce new technologies but not to apply them; (3) technology-driven projects run the risk of confusing means with ends; (4) remote sensing does not require high technology equipment and training to be an effective tool in resource evaluation and development. Recommendations are for A.I.D. to continue to support remote sensing, but to not participate in the Phase II being planned by other donors.