Accion Internacional, AITEC

Evaluation covers the period 5/76-5/77 and is based on appraisals by AITEC staff, document review, and field visits. Prospects for achieving the project"s purpose and goal are excellent. The project has been instrumental in revitalizing AITEC"s internal operating systems, expanding AITEC"s staff (by 3.5 employees), developing meaningful and practical programming and evaluation systems, and assessing the relevance of AITEC"s work. AITEC has received greater support from private foundations and has also improved its systems for reporting to donors. The result of these actions has been to increase AITEC"s efficiency, permitting AITEC to expand and transfer its operational model to several additional countries. AITEC is working with three new, labor-intensive agribusinesses in Costa Rica and with five small businesses in Colombia. AITEC has also begun to establish new credit mechanisms for small entrepreneurs in Mexico, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic. In 50 Costa Rican communities, AITEC has planned and implemented social service programs, and in Colombia, social benefits are reaching five communities. Most of the work in labor-intensive small businesses, establishment of new credit systems, and the planning and implementation of social services is planned for the project"s third year. Project experience has taught that: programming must be action-oriented; micro-programs can have a direct impact on national concerns such as employment and income redistribution; programs require local participation from their inception; and evaluation designs must be simple and cheap. Action decision notes that AITEC will need added operational support to expand its credit and management assistance efforts to needy Latin American countries.