Report on the joint evaluation of the ASEAN - US watershed project

The evaluation was conducted 18 months before PACD. The project has wisely been directed away from its original, overly broad purpose of developing a watershed research network, and toward greater emphasis on training and information exchange. The training component has gained valuable organizational experience in overcomming regional constraints such as poor communication facilities and differences in languages, and already the goal of training 520 participants has been exceeded, although improvements are needed in selecting both trainees and training topics. It is recommended that the project center in Los Banos, Philippines, be authorized to reject inappropriate candidates, and that project staff consult with national agencies to develop training curricula that cover only a few important subjects (four per country), the knowledge of which will help solve high-priority watershed problems. The project also needs to develop a long-range strategy to organize training topics, target audiences, and prioritize activities. Information exchange also needs strengthening. Although the Los Banos center is efficient and its publications are distributed using a continuously upgraded mailing list, the center could considerably lessen its workload by acquiring access to computerized documentation services. If direct link-up is not possible, commercial facilities in major cities should be contracted. It is also recommended that the project develop a manual on watershed management. The research component has been implemented only to a limited extent due to poor design, questionable purpose, delays in receiving equipment, and, in some countries, by lack of solid commitment from national agencies. At this late stage, efforts should at least be made to assure effective use of equipment already ordered. It is recommended that the project be granted an extension if funds are left over after the PACD and outputs are being achieved. However, if more funds are to be allocated, the project should be redesigned. Concrete targets for the time remaining in the project are specified.