Sahel manpower development project - an evaluation

Special evaluation covers the period 1979-82 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with A.I.D. and host country officials and returned participants. Outputs generally fell short of target. Only 315 Sahelians will complete training under the project, few of them women or from the private sector; the latter shortfall was due, inter alia, to the lack of highly developed private sectors in Sahelian countries and to host government monopolies in candidate recruitment and selection. Little in-country and third country training were provided. In-country English-language training (ELT) was offered in only three Francophone countries; as a result, few trainees were adequately oriented to U.S. life and U.S. ELT has increased long-term training costs by as much as 20%. Further, the time allotted for training appears underestimated, and the problem of equivalency remains. With few trainees returned to date, the program's actual impact cannot yet be assessed. Missions are generally too understaffed and inadequately organized to address the above-noted issues or the need for follow-up. Further, AID/W's allocation of project funds on the basis of annual host country training plans prevents adequate long-range planning by Missions. Contrary to Project Paper guidelines, several Missions funded undergraduate academic programs and some funds were improperly used for bilateral project training. The AID/W participant data base and tracking system lacked critical information and its data retrieval capabilities are of only limited help to Missions. On the plus side, country training plans have generally been consistent with host country and Mission development strategies, and the project has partially alleviated development constraints. Mission and host country personnel agree that the project serves as a useful and versatile development tool which needs to be available for future training programs outside of the project context. Fifteen principal recommendations are set forth in the areas of programming, management, and financial accountability.