The performance evaluation of the COSDEC subactivity integrated a qualitative analysis and a quantitative outcomes analysis. The qualitative analysis explored implementation of the subactivity, how it evolved after the compact, and its sustainability. It relied on two rounds of qualitative data: one conducted close to the end of the Namibia compact, and a second conducted about a year later. The qualitative data drew on focus groups with COSDEC trainees and interviews with COSDEC managers, the COSDEF (the body that oversees the COSDECs), implementers, employers, and other stakehodlers. The outcomes analysis sought to describe the characteristics and outcomes of enrollees in the seven new or renovated COSDECs. It relied on a survey of COSDEC enrollees that collected information about their training and labor market outcomes about one year after the end of COSDEC training. The COSDEC enrollee survey and the second round of qualitative data informed the final COSDEC evaluation report. (The findings from the first round of qualitative data were provided in an interim evaluation report covering all three subactivities.) The data from the COSDEC enrollee survey are available for public use, but the qualitative data are not because of the risks to confidentiality.
As described in the COSDEC final evaluation report, key stakeholders reported that the construction and renovation components of the COSDEC subactivity largely were successful, but some additional infrastructure improvements were still required. We also found that COSDECs had successfully incorporated many new management practices included in the technical assistance into their operations. The analysis of outcomes of COSDEC enrollees showed that almost 9 in 10 enrollees in our sample completed their COSDEC training, but few had enrolled in further training despite high interest in doing so. In addition, we found that the majority of COSDEC enrollees were not employed one year after the end of the training, and few were employed in a job related to their vocational training.