Clearinghouse on Development Communication

CDC is operated by the Institute for International Research (IIR). Interim external evaluation covers the period 8/88-1/91. Overall, IIR has succeeded in improving the operation of the Clearinghouse. IIR's computerization of cataloguing with its accompanying descriptors and identifiers has made electronic searches possible, greatly reducing the staff time involved in responding to requests. Nevertheless, the CDC is near the threshold of the number of requests that can be given individual attention without increasing staff commitment to this effort. In the latter half of the contract period, emphasis should be gradually shifted from cataloguing to dissemination, in order to ensure that developing country personnel who are directly involved in choosing communication strategies are familiar with CDC services and know how to access them. Also, the CDC should gradually shift, over the medium term, from a central storage/passive participant approach to a more multi- centered/shared ownership information exchange. The need of developing country personnel for information about locally appropriate development communications options is growing. This is likely to increase the demand for CDC services. The CDC should launch a limited campaign to advertise the existence and relevance of CDC services to developing country information managers; it should also initiate activities to build Mission awareness and promotion of CDC services. Increased use of new high tech communications options is desirable given the fact that the time currently required to access documents limits the usefulness of the service for many developing country practitioners; the CDC should begin pilot testing such options as high speed scanning, optical storage, and electronic dissemination. This testing will need to be planned in steps commensurate with project funding limitations. Lessons learned included the following. (1) Developing country planners and practitioners will not routinely send acquisitions from their latest projects to the CDC unless there is a mechanism for reciprocity. (2) The Clearinghouse is more useful to USAID Mission staff and their developing country clients than to A.I.D./W staff. (Author abstract, modified)