Ex-post Evaluation

1-1. Background of the Project

JICA technical cooperation in Fisheries Training has started in 1987 at the "Institut de Technologie des Pêches Maritimes d'Agadir" (ITPM). Following the Moroccan government request, JICA implemented "The Fisheries Technical Training Project" from June 1994 to June 2001 with the aim of improving the educational program at the ITPM of Agadir and the Centre de Qualification Professionnelle Maritimes (CQPMs) of Safi and that of Al Hoceima. The ITPM of Agadir was chosen as the pilot project  site because there were more instructors and facilities assisted by the former JICA project. Three years after the end of the project, an ex-post evaluation study was decided to be carried-out.

1-2. Project Overview

The JICA Fisheries Technical Training Project carried out the 4 following activities:

• The improvement of CQPMs and ITPM of Agadir's curriculums,
• The improvement of fishing practices on board,
• The introduction of fish processing,
• Brush-up training of the CQPMs and ITPM instructors.

(1) Overall Goal

The overall goal was to promote coastal fisheries as well as fish processing industryin the Kingdom of Morocco by enhancing capability and improving skills of fishing boat crewmembers.

(2) Project Purpose

The aim of the project is to strengthen the education level of ITPM of Agadir and the CQPM of Safi and Al Hoceima. In ordert to acheive this goal, JICA standardized the CQPM's educational program and trained Moroccan instructors. This led upgraded Agadir ITPM to the "Institut Spécialisé des Pêches Maritimes" (ISTPM), and CQPMs to ITPMs. The project reinforced also the equipments and facilities of both kinds of institutions.

(3) Outputs

1) The impact of the project on the institutes functioning

2) The impact of the project on the students technical level and their skills

3) The impact on the institutes not directly involved in the project

4) The impact of the project on Moroccan fishing sector

5) The impact of the external factors on the project overall goal

6) The post evaluation of institutional sustainability

7) The post evaluation of financial sustainability

8) The post evaluation of technological sustainability

(4) Inputs

Japanese side:

Moroccan side:

3-1 Summary of Evaluation Results

(1) Impact

The project, assisted by the repercussions of the previous projects, permitted a meaningful increase of the welcome capacities of welcome of the institutes concerned by the project, via the construction of school residency and two seminaries centers (see Table above). The JICA project permitted also the improvement of technical level of the institutes by supplying the facilities and didactic materials and standardization of training programs. The supervising rate in the three institutes is raised sufficiently to assure the students training activities. The average insertion rate of the laureates is about 94,5% (all section). This important rate is the consequence of the contributions of the cooperation project that contributed to the improvement of the technical level. The professionals (fishing and processing) show a great improvement of level of the laureates inserted in private sector during last three years. The fall-out of the project influenced positively also the other CQPMs non-enrolled in the project. The Manuals and training programs were sent to these CQPMs to be used. The project also improved the training technical level and the transfer of the technological knowledge within the Moroccan fishing sector. Also, the JICA projects contributed directly to increase the hygiene level and healthiness of the fisheries industry by introducing of the modern techniques of quality control. The table above shows the evolution of measurable indicators used in the ex post evaluation study.

(2) Sustainability

The institutional change of the 3 JICA project sites has been maintained and induced an improvement of technical level of the laureates and favored the satisfaction of the institutes staff. The constructions, equipments and facilities have been managed by the formed autonomous teachers and the administration staffs. The teachers, who received the technological knowledge in Japan, transferred it well to Moroccan and African trainers. An investigation showed a higher level satisfaction of these trainers. Three years after the end of the JICA project, the Moroccan side made an effort to maintain and to reinforce the training capacity of the 3 institutes. Thus, Nine teachers were recruited in the fisheries institutes during the last four years (three teachers in ISTPM of Agadir and six in the ITPM of Safi).

Concerning the financial sustainability, although the problem of the prolonged biologic rest affected the sector of Moroccan fishing, the Moroccan Five Year Plan 2000-2004 fixed the budgetary allowances focusing on the autonomous management of the 3 JICA sites. In addition to the budgets foreseen by the law of finance, the training institutes can generate some returns mainly through the auction of the ships-schools captures. These returns are poured in the state coffers and would permit to increase the budgets of the institutes. The financial sustainability of the project is also assured by financings by other cooperations projects such as the Canadian project "Forquapêche" (1998-2003) focusing on processing technology of and quality management, and the Spanish project in 2001 carried on hygiene management.

Concerning the technological sustainability, our investigations revealed the maintaining in a good state of equipments, facilities and infrastructures provided by JICA project. However, the rate of hourly use per year shows that an effort must be granted for a better exploitation of these equipments and infrastructures. In order to optimize their exploitation, the three institutes must achieve a technological transfer to private enterprises. The technology transferred by the japans experts have been judged adapted to the Moroccan conditions. Since the end of the project, the training curriculums have been reviewed one time while opting for an expertise approach . On the other hand, the senior volunteers contributed directly to  update of the teachers and students technical level mainly in the area of the maintenance of the navy machinery. Such action should be promote subsequently for the fish industry department in the future.

3-2. Factors that have promoted project

(1) Impact

• The government policy promoted the social evolution of fishermen through a training approach
• Government budgetary allowance for material and human resources.
• The encouragement of the operators by the Moroccan government in return for the possibility to financing continuing training to the profits of their staffs.

(2) Sustainability

• Role of others external cooperation such as the Canadian fishing “Forquapêche” project (1998-2003) that allowed the teachers and the purchase of equipment and facilities.
• Interest of African countries: this interest permitted the exchange of Moroccan and Japanese expertise with Africans through training actions.

3-3. Factors that have inhibited project

(1) Impact

• The rarefaction of marine resources: the prolonged biological rest periods influence seriously the fishing activity. The rate exploitation of the ship-schools is also influenced by this problem.
• Reticence of private sector and manufacturers: the 3 JICA project institutes have to promote their technological knowledge to professionals and manufacturers. This action is handicapped by the reticence of these operators.

(2) Sustainability

Financial Resources: the financial sustainability is necessary to perform the materials and infrastructures exploitation.

3-4. Conclusions

Since the final evaluation step, the fall-outs produced by JICA project were revealed that the Moroccan fishing sector are reasonably  sustainable. As a result, various goals such as technical training improvement of the 3 JICA project sites and the development of some fish processing transformation mainly smoked and pickled fish. These goals have been reached and maintained. In spite of the financial difficulties, the contributions of the two sides (Moroccan and Japanese) have enhanced human and material capacities of  ISTPM of Agadir and ITPMs of Safi and Al Hoceima. 

Also, our ex-post evaluation study revealed that the Japanese technological knowledge has not only been adapted and maintained but also transferred to Moroccan and African trainers. Thus, JICA project allowed ISTPM of Agadir to open up others ways of opportunities. Development of these opportunities with private sector is to be promoted. The success of such opportunities is largely dependant on foreign assistance.

3-5. Recommendations

The ex post evaluation study shows that the JICA project contribution is not only a catalyst for enhancement of fishing technical training level in Morocco, but permitted the development of many opportunities. This project is one of the most successful cooperation projects in Morocco. However, for a better sustainability of the fall-out of the project, it is reasonable to schedule a future assistance in order to realize the following recommendations: 

At institutional level, a decentralization policy will be considered by the Moroccan government in fishing training sector. This policy allows the 3 institutes to perform the exploitation of the facilities and the infrastructures financed by other foreign cooperation. Also, The decentralization policy will facilitate the next institutional promotion of ISTPM of Agadir to an autonomous highest academic institute. 

Assist the 3 institutes to convert into technological centers for industrial sector in order to increase their income.

With the fish resource rarefaction, especially the stock of octopus, Moroccan fishing sector shows actually a decrease in its exploitation speed. Others development ways will be studied like introducing aquaculture techniques and enhancement of new sea products valorization. 

3-6. Lessons Learned

Considering the out-come results, the project can be considered a successful example to be followed for the sustainability of the sector.

However, in order to adapt the technology transfer, it will be hopeful to take into consideration the socio-cultural and economic specification of the country.  It is notably about the sea products valorization that must take in account the specificities of the food habits of the Moroccan consumer.