Norwegian Support to Bunda College of Agriculture - Phase II. An Evaluation

Abstract

This report is an evaluation of NORAD’s support to Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi to the tune of NOK 35 million for the period 2001–2004. Results were assessed in five output areas: (a) organisational restructuring; (b) financial and administrative management; (c) revenue generation; (d) improved priority teaching facilities; and (e) improved teaching and research capacity. Notable achievements included the preparation of a strategic plan for the College; the commercialisation of Bunda Farm; the resuscitation of the Bunda Journal of Agriculture, Environmental Science and Technology; installation of a local area network and a new software package for accounting purposes; rehabilitation of buildings; provision of equipment and improvement of library services; and upgrading of professional staff qualifications through a large number of scholarships at MSc and PhD levels. Among the shortfalls were the failure to transform Bunda College into a fully-fledged university; the continued undercapitalisation of Bunda Farm; no monitoring and evaluation system installed to ascertain the effectiveness of new systems and procedures; no policy formulated on consultancies, including overheads to be paid to the College; and limited outreach to the ultimate beneficiaries of agricultural research, i.e. the farmers. With respect to the next phase, it was recommended that more attention be given to outreach activities; that sustainability concerns be taken more seriously; and that a lean and simple management structure be established to avoid top-heavy, multi-layered arrangements which would increase transaction costs.