ACCELERATED IMPACT PROGRAM PHASE II EVALUATION (01/20/77-01/21/77)

The Accelerated Impact Program (AIP) has assisted individual missions w/small scale, short-term projs & was instituted to quickly finance proj operatns which would provide data, informatn & lessons learned to proj evaluators/designers. Admin aspects & varying viewpoints between the Phase I review team (RT1) & the Phase II Review Team (RT2) for improving AIP are presented. Evaluatn methodology based on on-site observatns, interviews & docs. Although situatns vary in Sahel countries, overall probs in proj implementatn has been an inadequate supply of equipmt, funds & qualified personnel; extensive turnovers in personnel; & confusn resulting from file reshuffling. Difficult travel arrangemts for on-site observatns has necessitated frequent contact w/implementing agencies. Extensive delays in submitting required reports & lack of necessary informatn in reports caused RT2 to recommend: less documentatn, quarterly instead of monthly reports, additns of more qualified personnel &/or training in proj design; reports specific to each field; refusals of all Accelerated Proj Identificatn Docs which do not meet expectatns, & AID/W cable approval status to USAID within one month after a thorough analysis of the Accelerated Activity Paper. Although RT2 agrees w/the procedural changes recommended by RT1, it felt AIP"s established procedures should not be changed in concept, criteria or documentatn until they have been more thoroughly tested. RT2 feels docs need only analyze relevant proj factors and that expanded documentation recommended by RT1 is too lengthy. RT2 recommends procuremt procedures & proj funding be improved w/more emphasis on agr, health & educatnal start-up activities; allowances be made to Sahel states which can act more expeditiously; proj be expanded Africa-wide in FY 77; local consultants be more fully utilized; AFR/W designate an office to manage & provide financial guidelines for AIP; & more latitude be given to using procuremt waivers. Despite probs, RT1 feels AIP could be useful in devel assist strategies by providing rapid responses.