SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY GRANTS

EVALUATION COVERS THE LIFE OF THE PROJECT, 1/74-1/79, AND IS BASED ON VISITS BY THE AID PROJECT MANAGER AND A PRIVATE SMALL INDUSTRY EXPERT TO THE KOREAN AND PHILIPPINE SUBPROJECTS AND ON A REVIEW OF DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY PROJECT UNIVERSITIES, ESPECIALLY THE FINAL REPORT OF THE GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, (GIT), "STIMULATING THE GROWTH OF SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY." ALTHOUGH GIT"S METHODOLOGY FOR ESTIMATING PROJECT BENEFICIARIES WAS INADEQUATE AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE REGIONS GREATLY INFLUENCED PROJECT RESULTS, THE PROJECT DOES SEEM TO HAVE TEMPORARILY IMPROVED THE CAPABILITY OF THE COUNTERPART LDC UNIVERSITIES RECEIVING PROJECT SUBGRANTS TO SERVE SMALL INDUSTRY AND TO HAVE PROVIDED SOME JOB OPPORTUNITIES. WITH GIT ASSISTANCE, THE LDC UNIVERSITIES DID IMPROVE THEIR ADVISORY SERVICE AND RESPONSE CAPABILITY, RESEARCHED APPROPRIATE METHODOLOGIES FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO LCD SMALL INDUSTRIES, COOPERATED WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, INITIATED EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND FORMED AN INFORMATION SYSTEM/COMMUNICATION NETWORK. HOWEVER, PROJECT FUNDING WAS INADEQUATE TO LEAD TO SELF-SUSTAINING LDC EXTENSION CAPACITY. THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF SMALL-SCALE INDUSTRY FOCUS IN THE LDC UNIVERSITIES WAS ALSO HAMPERED BY GIT"S FAILURE TO DOCUMENT ADEQUATELY MUCH OF WHAT WAS LEARNED ABOUT ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO INSTITUTIONAL ASSISTANCE. THE IN-COUNTRY AND PARTICIPANT TRAINING OUTPUTS WERE ACHIEVED AS PLANNED. THE EVALUATORS" PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION CONCERNS THE UPGRADING OF GIT"S DOCUMENTATION. THEY ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT AID EXPAND EFFORTS TO DEVELOP LDC INSTITUTIONS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL INDUSTRIAL FIRMS, AS THE CURRENT PROJECT DESIGN LIMITED EXTENSION SERVICES TO THE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT OF THE UNIVERSITIES, THEREBY DENYING A MORE EFFECTIVE IMPACT ON THE TARGET INDUSTRIAL POPULATION. FINALLY, IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT PROJECT MONITORING BE STRESSED MORE BYCONTRACTORS AND AID STAFF. THIS PES PRECEDES AND SUMMARIZES THE PROJECT EVALUATION REPORT (PD-AAH-297-C1).