Assessment of the USAID-funded family planning services program in Bangladesh as of June 30, 1983

Audit report covers the period 1973-83 and is based on document review and interviews with USAID/B, Government of Bangladesh (BDG), and nongovernmental organization (NGO) officials. The BDG logistics system through which some $40 million in AID-funded commodities have flowed remains inadequate. The BDG"s failure to inventory commodities, lack of fully trained personnel, and inadequate accounting system/controls have led to inaccurate reporting on stock and distribution levels and supply management problems such as over- and understocked districts and inadequate/haphazard storage space. Although apprised of these problems by several recent AID-funded evaluations, USAID/B has not taken effective countermeasures. Although the BDG has fielded a team of medical experts to monitor compliance of the voluntary sterilization (VS) program with A.I.D. policies, surveillance has been spotty due to a lack of a formal USAID/B-BDG implementation plan. Nonetheless, the program has progressed well; over 1 million tubectomies and vasectomies have been performed since 1978. The contraceptive marketing program being administered by Population Services International (PSI) requires a comprehensive assessment. While sales have increased notably, the popularity of the low-dose oral pills sold by PSI along with regular strength pills may be adversely affecting the BDG"s distribution program, which sells only the latter. PSI also owes A.I.D. a refund of $40,930 and BDT 1,115,238. Finally, despite an agreement to the contrary with A.I.D., the BDG has prevented PSI from shipping duty-free vehicles into the country. Discussion of programs of the International Center for Diarrhoeal Disease Research/B, the Bangladesh Associations for Community Education and VS, the Bangladesh FP Association, and of a CARE program to help the Family Welfare Visitor Training Institutes (which should when completed be transferred to the BDG) conclude the audit. Other recommendations are to: develop plans to solve major logistics problems and improve VS surveillance; and resolve customs charges on project commodities imported by NGO"s.