USAID/Chad impact evaluation of USAID-sponsored training in Chad : 1983 - 1995

The Mission is scheduled to close in September 1995. Since 1984, the Mission has provided short-, long-, U.S.- and third-country, and local training to over 2,700 Chadians in various fields. These investments have had a significant and measurable impact at the individual, sectoral, and national levels, despite a trying development context. Moreover, these investments are sustainable, given that in 1990 the Mission began to provide and focus on participant training for the staff of three "development" ministries, those of Health (MOH), Agriculture, and Planning, and, by way of complement, to cultivate within each a "critical mass" of cadres trained in modern management techniques. On an individual level, 87% of those surveyed reported that training improved their performance, with half receiving promotions as a result. All 27 Chadians interviewed individually stated that training led to a "change in their life", and 70% reported using their training very often. At the institutional level, 100% of those surveyed stated that their employers were involved in the selection of training, and most participants returned to the same employer, despite the political upheavals in Chad at the time. Most participants shared their new skills with colleagues, indicating a significant multiplier effect, and an overwhelming percentage reported that use of their new skills in the work place led to institutional changes. Training led to the establishment of a MOH unit that publishes annual health statistics. Also, a health training center was founded in Sarh that has trained a large number of rural-based primary health care personnel. Local consulting firms improved their capacity by collaborating and sub-contracting with the USAID and U.S. contractors who handled training programs. Training has also helped improve capacity to publish regular and accurate agricultural price reports necessary to the expansion of production and trade. At the national and sectoral level, Mission training helped induce changes in family planning policies and attitudes. As for the private sector, training under the Human Resource Development Assistance (HRDA) Project did not begin until 1992. U.S. observation tours exposed key Chadian businesspeople to trade opportunities that resulted in increased revenues and improved commercial ties to U.S. buyers and suppliers. Training also improved the skills of Chadian businesspeople in new marketing and management tools and helped increase their profits and revenues. Training also resulted in better distinction between business and personal matters, improved personnel management, and increased creativity, diversity, and product quality. USAID/Chad is the only bilateral donor to use and publicize mandates for recruiting and selecting women for training. However, even when in-country and participant training are combined, the Mission did not meet its targets for number of women trained; male attitudes toward women assuming "non-traditional" professional roles are negative in Chad and silently supported by the lack of clear Government of Chad guidance. However, training of women business owners has led to improved profits and quality of family life. Also, a little over half of the male respondents felt that training had sensitized them to the situation for women in Chad. Finally, the Mission has made some headway towards fostering democracy and governance in Chad: training has exposed the country's top magistrates and jurists to legal aspects relating to the transition to democracy in Benin and Senegal, and hands-on training for Chadian magistrates has provided them with practical information needed to establish a credible judicial system.