Vehicle maintenance training

PES covers the period 8/81-8/83 and consists of USAID/E"s reflections following a controverted special evaluation (XD-AAN-854-A, attached). Due to numerous delays, for which all parties - RCA (the contractor), USAID/E, but especially the General Syndicate of Land Transport (GSLT), - bear the blame, little has been accomplished and time is running out. The GSLT expected the project to be implemented for, not by, it, and the the Center has had no director to take charge, resolve unforeseen problems (e.g., clearing equipment through customs - a major problem), and provide RCA with the active supervision it needed. USAID/E remained passive despite problems severe enough to warrant intervention. The parties never fully agreed on targets and division of responsibilities. Regarding logframe targets, the training curricula originally developed by RCA, which allowed students to work at their own pace, were criticized by the GSLT, causing RCA to revert to more traditional curricula; these in turn were deemed worthless by a member of the evaluation team because they assume literacy. USAID/E, however, believes the new curricula (all 15 should be ready by the end of 1983) have merit and has asked RCA and the GSLT to have them reviewed by the bus and truck companies. Long-term training at RCA"s New Jersey headquarters has been given to 9 of 16 Center instructors (reduced from 22 with the consent of all parties), but its value has been challenged because of English language difficulties. Many problems could have been avoided if logframe assumptions such as the adequacy of salaries for Center instructors, provision of trainees by the GSLT, and timely completion of Center construction had been within the project"s control. USAID/E must still resolve the following with the new Center Director: the customs problem; instructors" salaries, assessment of their capabilities, and completion of their training; and assessment of the adequacy/utility of the curricula and of bus and truck company willingness to participate in the Center. The major lesson learned - poor management yields poor results.