BHM International final report to the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance on completion of technical support contract AFR-1520-C-00-1128-00

Results included improved design of grants and improved relationships between PMP and grantees. A series of lessons learned were presented to help grantees use USAID"s managing for results orientation. Reporting by grantees improved, while PMP incorporated evaluation and monitoring into its management processes. Vehicles for achieving these results included 26 evaluations, 6 special studies, training workshops, and continuous consultations with the PMP Division. BHM also participated in an Office-wide review and development of OFDA strategies. Its support of the Disaster Response Division in carrying out evaluations of complex humanitarian emergencies in southern Sudan, northern Iraq, and Angola contributed to lessons learned on strategic design and implementation, especially in developing baselines, targets, and measurable results and in promoting the need for continuous monitoring and evaluation of increasingly time-consuming and expensive responses. Information dissemination was aided by development of an OFDA Evaluation Bulletin and a draft OFDA Monitoring and Evaluation Manual. The report consists mainly of discussions of lessons learned. Lessons in the area of disaster response are as follows. (1) Preparedness is critical to a timely and effective response. (2) Accurate and reliable assessments are critical to appropriate response. (3) Relief can promote development. (4) The need for a timely response may require bypassing local and national authorities. (5) The OFDA goal of "saving lives" was often not an appropriate goal. Lessons in the area of disaster preparedness are as follows. (1) Hazard monitoring can dramatically reduce loss of life. (2) Regional training programs are an effective means of long-term capacity building. (3) Sustainability requires donor collaboration and may require partnerships with institutions other than governments. (4) A regional approach does not benefit every country equally. (5) Inadequate design reduces accomplishments. Lessons regarding disaster mitigation are as follows. (1) The post-disaster reconstruction period presents an opportune time to introduce mitigation measures. (2) Mitigation innovations are most sustainable when they are affordable and consonant with evolving building practices. (3) Mitigation requires a long-term commitment and resource capacity. (4) Training materials developed to promote long-term education for disaster-mitigation building practices are not effective. (5) Informal housing is not affected by the formal building industry. (6) Beneficiary selection is problematic in the post-disaster reconstruction period. (7) Improved marketing could improve mitigation programs. (8) P.L. 480 funds can be effectively used to fund disaster management projects. Lessons addressing evaluation issues include the following. (1) Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of programs are effective management tools for ensuring that programs stay on track. (2) Long-term evaluations proved useful in determining program impacts. (3) Prior evaluations provide critical information. (4) Evaluating similar types of projects facilitates comparisons and synthesis. (5) Evaluation designs vary depending on their expected use. (6) Systematically considering a broad range of lessons previously learned can increase the potential for future project success.