TECHNICAL RESOURCES

Evaluation covers the period 2/79-9/80 and is based on review of documents and interviews with project staff. Performance by the External Resources Division (ERD), the implementing agency, has not met USAID"s expectations. Bangladeshi project monitorship is nonexistent. ERD provides no input to the Ministries" proposals and often has inadequate background information to justify funding for these proposals. As a result, subobligation of funds has been slow. ERD is not functioning in a planning and coordinating role, nor has it requested technical assistance to develop these capabilities. In fact, USAID has thus far proposed and initiated most technical assistance activities. Despite these shortcomings, ERD has coordinated the preparation of a feasibility study for an Integrated Land and Water project and the drafting of a famine warning map. A management assistance consultancy was organized for the Ministry of Agriculture and another wasapproved (upon ERD"s request) for the Food Planning and Monitoring Unit. The training program was divided into general and women"s training components. Under general training, 38 ERD staff have received or are undergoing U.S. training. Under the women"s training program, out of 27 planned trainees, only two women are receiving Master"s degree training in the United States and Philippines, and only one has attended a U.S. seminar. The Women"s Affairs Ministry has been unable to identify appropriate training candidates and training programs and to plan in-country management seminars. It is recommended that ERD initiate and coordinate proposals for technical assistance; ERD and USAID maintain closer contact when new activities are proposed; unprogrammed funds be obligated; one Women"s Affairs Ministry staff member work with USAID and ERD in project management; and a women"s management training seminar and candidates for non-formal education training be proposed.