VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROJECT

Evaluation covers the period 8/78-5/80 and is based on an audit of documents, site visits, and interviews with project staff. Little substantive progress was made in implementing the project. Start-up was delayed for over a year by contractual problems between USAID, the Government of Liberia (GOL), and Prairie View A&M University (PVU) which is supplying technical assistance (TA). The TA contract drawn up by GOL contained errors and inconsistancies and needed extensive amendment by USAID. The arrival of the PVU team and the procurement of commodities was slow. There were disputes over the amount of advanced payments to be issued to cover operating costs. PVU requested cash advances far exceeding their needs and did not submit a cash flow analysis to justify this request. Neither did PVU submit requests for reimbursements promptly. In addition, the Ministry of Education (MOE) disallowed certain claimed costs which they considered unjustified. An incorrect overhead rate for recovery of on-campus overhead costs was used in the contract. TA has not met project expectations. Four of eight field positions remain vacant. Badly needed commodities were not procured, yet inappropriate items such as art books were requested by PVU before assessing BWI"s need for technical supplies. PVU has not prepared a detailed work plan needed for project implementation and evaluation and has submitted no progress reports; nor has its home office provided adequate logistical and administrative support. There is a lack of housing and petty cash for daily operations. It is recommended that: (1) GOL"s ability to draw up and administer contracts be evaluated; (2) the cash advance to PVU be decreased until a cash flow analysis is submitted; (3) the cost of the inappropriate commodities be deducted from the contractor"s next voucher; (4) MOE and PVU resolve the disallowance for project recovery costs; (5) MOE be informed of the proper on-campus overhead rate; and (6) PVU"s ability to provide TA effectively be examined.