USAID/Sudan"s Yambio agricultural research station rehabilitation project; memorandum audit report

Audit report covers the period 8/79-8/82 and is based on document review, interviews with project and host country officials, and site visits. Although the quality of renovation work at the YARS was good, the facilities are not being used due to a lack of qualified staff willing to relocate to the site. Further, the ARC has established no timetable for occupancy of the station, thus precluding for the forseeable future the planned training of six laboratory technicians and the integration of the YARS into Sudan"s agricultural research network. Lastly, the ARC has developed no plans for maintenance of the renovated facilities. According to USAID/S, however, the project was amended in 6/82 to make rehabilitation (rather than integration of the YARS into Sudan"s agricultural research network) the project"s sole purpose. Only with the completion of rehabilitation work could the ARC proceed to recruit qualified staff. On 5/29/82 the ARC authorized 13 positions for the YARS; with the return of employees currently completing their studies, the YARS will have five graduate-level scientists. Given these actions by the ARC, USAID/S feels satisfactory progress has been made. Nonetheless, it is recommended that USAID/S make FY83 expenditures contingent upon the ARC"s staffing and use of the YARS, and ensure that the ARC institutes the required long-term facility maintenance plans.