Ex-post Evaluation

1. Outline of the Project

Country:

Morocco

Project title:

Road Maintenance and Construction Machines

Issue/Sector:

Roads

Cooperation scheme:

Project-type Technical Cooperation

Division in charge:

Social Development Cooperation Department

Total cost:

Period of Cooperation

16 April 1992 - 15 April 1997

Partner Country’s Implementing Organization:

Institute of Training on Road Maintenance and Construction Machines (IFEER)

Supporting Organization in Japan:

The Former Ministry of Construction (The Current Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation)

Related Cooperation:

Grant Aid; “Institute of Training on Road Maintenance and Construction Machines (IFEER)”
Third-country Group Training; “Road Maintenance and Construction Technology”

1-1 Background of the Project

In Morocco, road transportation is the most important means of transportation and the Moroccan government has long directed efforts into the expansion and maintenance of roads. In recent years, with the deterioration of financial circumstances, new road construction decreased, and the focus is mainly on the maintenance of existing roads. However, because of the lack of technicians who can operate, maintain and manage construction machines and of the knowledge of technicians involved in enforcement planning and inspecting supervision, road maintenance is being carried out but not as economically and efficiently as it would be if the situation were improved.

Under these circumstances, in order to enhance the potential of those technicians and to improve road maintenance efficiently, the Moroccan government formulated the plan to establish the Institute of Training on Road Maintenance and Construction Machines (IFEER). The Moroccan government then requested Japan to provide Grant Aid and Project-type Technical Cooperation. This Project-type Technical Cooperation started in April 1992 and was carried out for five years. And with the successful results of the cooperation, since 1999, Third-country Group Training of IFEER has been conducted, for the benefit of with French-speaking African nations.

1-2 Project Overview

In order to measure the expansion of road maintenance, the implementation system of training for road technicians in the field of road construction and maintenance from both public and private will be established in IFEER that is the only special training center for maintaining construction machines, operating and repairing the existing roads.

(1) Overall Goal
To improve the road system in Morocco.

(2) Project Purpose
In order to contribute to the improvement of the techniques and management of road maintenance in Morocco, IFEER will work on cultivating human resources such as public and private personnel engaged in operating, repairing and maintaining construction machines.

(3) Outputs
1) Administrative control of IFEER will be established.
2) Training equipment will be developed.
3) Training instructors will be cultivated.
4) Training materials will be developed.
5) Trainees will be cultivated.

(4) Inputs

2. Evaluation Team

Members of Evaluation Team

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Morocco Office
(Commissioned to: Maroc Development)

Period of Evaluation

22 January 2002 – 8 March 2002

Type of Evaluation:

Ex-post Evaluation by Overseas Offices

3. Results of Evaluation

3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results

(1) Relevance
IFEER, providing high-level training with experienced training instructors and holding equipment delivered by the Japanese government, is the only specialized institute for continued training and retraining of technicians who work in areas of road maintenance and construction. As nine years have passed since it was created, it is now an essential training center for the Directorate of Roads and Road Traffic (DRCR). For all of Morocco, road maintenance and construction and high-quality technicians are very much needed. This shows the important role IFEER plays in the cultivation of technicians.

(2) Effectiveness
IFEER is the only training institute for management, operation and repair of construction machine in Morocco. As 75 percent of the technicians in DRCR and related organizations engaged in road maintenance and management were trained in IFEER, the project purpose is consistent with the need to“cultivate human resources”.

(3) Efficiency
Supported by high-level techniques and well-experienced instructors, the IFEER head office is well positioned to carry out its functions. This allows the IFEER to maintain a stable level of training.

Thus, the efficiency of this project can be maintained by the constant provision of resources. However, there are still areas for improvement in private benefits and also in its treatment of graduates.

(4) Impact
The training provided by IFEER promotes more effective use of resources and equipment. In particularly, training participants can operate and maintain the construction machines and they are responsible and confident. These effects were achieved through technology transfer by the Japanese experts. The training course in IFEER was supervised by a team of highly qualified trainers who gained further technical experience and skills through the training program in Japan.

As a consequence, this leads to better performance on the part of technicians, a longer service life for equipment and a greater time saving. IFEER-trained technicians have contributed to the improvement of road infrastructure in Morocco, particularly in the construction of unpaved roads and highways in rural areas.

As mentioned above, the output contributed to achievement of the overall goal “improve the quality of road networks in Morocco” as a result of the Training.

(5) Sustainability
Established nine years ago, IFEER, the sole institute in this field, has gained extensive experience in ongoing training and retraining of personnel concerned with road maintenance and construction works and it is likely that the Training will continue after project termination. The sustainability of IFEER is dependent on increasing the number of participantsfrom other public or private companies. Therefore, IFEER decided to increase publicity activities in order to attract participants from the public and private sectors and increase the number of training participants. IFEER has started publicity activities focusing on the exchange of opinion, such as visits to various organizations to promote training participation. IFEER also continues efforts to secure its sustainability by introducing its activities on TV.

3-2 Factors that promoted realization of effects

(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A

(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) It is convenient for training participants the training is conducted close to the capital.
2) The infrastructure of training such as equipments are in line with the training concept so that the training can be implemented effectively.
3) Well-qualified instructors achieved a high level of training efficiency.
4) The training method was efficient and training materials were well utilized.
5) Coming up to the expectations and the needs for ongoing education, retraining and advancement of the agents intervening in the field of public works.
6) IFEER training is available for public technicians as well as other applicants, under a policy conducive to cultivating a large number of road technicians

3-3 Factors that impeded realization of effects

(1) Factors concerning Planning
N/A

(2) Factors concerning the Implementation Process
1) As the publicity activities in sufficient, IFEER was not widely known.
2) Due to a lack of construction machinery, it was difficult to respond to special needs.
3) As a result of the lengthy training period, some related organizations were passive toward participating in the training.
4) There were some private enterprises that took it for granted that the training would be expensive, so there were only a limited number of participants from the private sector and individuals.

3-4 Conclusion

The positive evaluation was acquired with regard to improvement of techniques and knowledge in the field of road maintenance and construction. On the other hand, to secure future sustainability, it is necessary to increase the number of trainees from the private sector, and improve the training equipment and treatment of graduates.

3-5 Recommendations

(1) The training course should be more actively promoted so that IFEER becomes more widely known.

(2) It is necessary to carry out ongoing education and retraining for the instructors in order to keep their know-how and skills up to date.

(3) It is necessary to reinforce the development of the training text for lectures and training materials.

(4) It is necessary to consider affiliation with OFPPT and contract management.

(5) It is necessary to consider issuing an official certification upon completion as a career incentive, especially with regard to trainees from the private sector.

(6) JICA should follow up the regular activities to get a better grasp of the issues in IFEER.

(7) JICA should request IFEER to submit an annual activity report that details the level of training for a better understanding of the needs of the training course.

(8) JICA should continue the Third-country Training Program with French-speaking African countries utilizing the ability of IFEER.

(9) Trainees have realized the importance of improving the efficiency, the quality of work turned in, availability of the equipment at all times and the longevity of the equipment through their trainings and workplace experiences.

3-6 Lessons Learned

N/A

3-7 Follow-up Situation

N/A