Follow-up

Consultants, remembering that it is the prerogative of the country to make final decisions, nevertheless, often outline actions to be taken in the future. To assist the government, the consultant should do the following:

(1) Be certain that everyone is briefed and that the report and recommendations are discussed before they are formally presented
(2) Inform the international organizations and country representatives of the recommendations and discuss the possibility of the organization's involvement
(3) Ensure that the personnel who are actually entrusted with the work, as well as the administrators, understand what they are doing and why
(4) Brief (by letter, telephone or in person) the technical staff of the international organization about the situation and the reasons for the recommendations.

Too often, at the departure gate, consultants forget the country and its problems. In the age of instant photocopies, sending occasional reprints of scientific reports, or a personal letter is an easy method to bridge gaps that international organizations find impossible. In many instances, such little extra effort can make the difference between the success or failure of the country to implement recommendations.