Abyei integrated rural development

PES covers the period 1/80-2/81 and is based on a special evaluation (PD-AAH-698). Most project outputs are considerably short of target, but in view of the circumstances faced, progress has been reasonable. Achievements include construction of staff housing, a workshop, and a warehouse; agronomic testing; and provision of technical support to local health care delivery. Livestock and farm budget surveys have been conducted and several water-well drilling technologies tested, and vocational training in vehicle maintenance, carpentry, metal working, and masonry has begun. On the other hand, procedures for testing and reporting on various IRD technologies were inadequate, and the data yielded by the project are disappointing in both quantity and quality. No institutional base has been developed at the community level to help ensure continuation of project activities. Major problems have included: (1) high turnover, especially among Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) staff; (2) serious logistic difficulties due to deteriorating security and the local unavailability of commodities; (3) HIID management deficiencies; (4) inadequate funding to achieve the project"s broad and complex goals, and delayed receipt of both A.I.D. and Sudanese funds; (5) shortcomings of the OPG framework for effective A.I.D. management and monitoring in difficult situations; (6) recruitment of long-term technicians who were well-motivated but inexperienced in IRD projects; and (7) difficulty in recruiting and retaining qualified Sudanese staff. Sudan"s severe macroeconomic problems have posed a major obstacle to sustained government investment in the small farm sector, particularly in IRD efforts. Implementation was also impeded by social and political tensions between the two beneficiary groups, the Ngok Dinka and the Messiriya Humr, which limited extension activities and service delivery. Action decisions are to extend the project 3 months without additional funding, and to provide additional local currency support from P.L. 480 generations to sustain counterpart staff after project termination.