Assessment of the PL-480 Title II program in Ecuador

480 Title II program in Ecuador for the purpose of assessing Catholic Relief Services's (CRS) proposal to extend the program by 2 years. The Maternal/Child Health Feeding and Food for Work programs have been moderately successful in fostering community development, but have suffered from lack of complementary resources and TA. Under the Other Child Feeding program, Title II commodities provided little more than an institutional subsidy to day care centers. All told, neither CRS nor its counterpart, SENAPS, have sufficiently supervised and monitored the program; the few benefits are largely due to efforts of some of the dioceses. With the exception of the child survival component, no phase-out activities have been implemented. This is due primarily to a 10-month lapse in assigning a CRS program director, the lack of a full-time CRS staff person for the food program, and the lack of complementary resources. In light of insufficient program management, supervision, and benefits, an extension would not be justifiable. Although Ecuador is in need of development assistance, it is not a food deficit country. It is recommended that CRS concentrate on development-oriented activities at the diocesan level, utilizing local food resources when required. (Author abstract, modified)