Sahel regional financial management project

projects by Sahelian development institutions. Pertinent personnel will be trained to use FM information and to develop new FM systems for continued project certifiability and accountability. The U.S. Department of Agriculture"s Office of International Cooperation and Development will implement the project. FM systems will be developed in all Sahelian countries, with emphasis on accounting systems design in Cape Verde; local currency elements of A.I.D. projects in Mauritania; and identification of the proper institutional locus for long-term assistance and of special FM needs in Niger. Materials will be used and distributed through regional and national workshops; Missions will participate in all materials development. As a result of the project, Sahelian institutions and individuals will assume increasing responsibility for meeting A.I.D. certification requirements, and host governments will manage financial accounts in a way that meets the A.I.D. Controller"s accountability standards (thus reducing direct project involvement by the Controller"s Office) and will develop and operationalize specialized FM systems in projects that need them. The improved FM practices will be incorporated into new A.I.D. projects. Long-term training will be provided by an expatriate technical expert to be shared by Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and the Gambia; by a training advisor for the Gambian Management Development Institute; by a foreign advisor and a host country member or Sahelian for the Gambia, Mali, Upper Volta, and Niger; and by a foreign advisor for Senegal. U.S. short-term technicians will spend 4-8 months in each country, developing special systems, training programs, and workshop development capabilities. Training will be provided to 400 project managers/accountants and to new host government personnel in selected countries. Local FM and accounting personnel in Niger will be contracted as consultants for 8 months, thereby receiving job experience. Amendment No. 1 (8/20/84) extends project to include Chad. Long- and short-term TA in FM and accounting will be provided, training materials and methods developed, and workshops and in-country training courses held. (PD-AAP-538) Amendment of 7/1/85 extends the project through 6/91 (Phase II). Less emphasis will be put on basic project accountability and more on strengthening host government FM. Also, intraregional information flow will be enhanced through semiannual meetings of project staff and increased staff travel; additional Sahelian project staff will be added in several countries; long-term training will be provided to Chadian and Gambian personnel; and in-country and regional training will be increased, as will use of private Sahelian expertise in training and TA. Phase II will be implemented by a competitively chosen contractor. (PD-AAR-380) According to the Desk Officer, Phase began 1/1/87 under project 6250974.