ACOMUC OPG : RURAL LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR WOMEN

Evaluation covers the period 9/78-10/80 and is based on a review of files, site visits, and interviews with project personnel and campesinas. The Peruvian Institute of Business Administration (IPAE) offered 8-day programs on leadership development to 140 ACOMUC volunteers. Although this training revitalized many ACOMUC affiliates, inexperience kept most trainees from participating in phase two activities. This training should be discontinued. An IPAE technican trained 30 campesina leaders in communication to facilitate field linkages between campesinas and ACOMUC volunteers. To date, however, only a few of these trainees are active in the project. Training on how to present courses to campesinas offered by the Association of Educational Training of Peru to 35 women trainers proved to be too theoretical. In the phase two pilot training program, only 130 0f 370 planned courses have been given to 1,200 of 2,700 targeted campesinas. Several lessons were learned. (1) Volunteers lacking field experience cannot carry out a campesina training program. (2) Participants should be assessed on the likelihood of their future participation before being trained. (3) Emphasis must be given to available logistics when determining the size of a project area. (4) An official commitment for Government of Peru logistic support is needed. (5) Organizations receiving OPG"s should have access to management, supervisory, and accounting personnel. Despite its shortfalls, the project remains the campesinas" only chance for any training at all. USAID should continue to focus the the Ministry of Agriculture"s attention on the needs of rural women, as well as increase its monitoring of ACOMUC"s project activities and accounting procedures. ACOMUC should provide USAID with data on reprogramming available funds; a complete list of leaders of women"s groups and individuals involved in the project; and a list of sites for small income-producing activities.