COOPERATIVE APPROACHES TO LOW INCOME HOUSING; AN EVALUATION OF THE USAID-FCH EXPERIENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINIMUM SHELTER PROJECTS

ASSISTANCE FROM THE FOUNDATION FOR COOPERATIVE HOUSING (FCH) IS DUE TO TERMINATE, YET THE START OF THE MOST VALUABLE PORTION OF THE FIELD ADVISORS" ASSISTANCE IS OVER SIX MONTHS AWAY. IF AID WANTS TO BE PART OF WHAT MAY BE A NEW AND SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO HOUSING LOWER INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, IT MUST CONSIDER FUNDING CONTINUED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE COLOMBIAN AND JAMAICAN PROJECTS. IF AID BELIEVES THAT FCH HAS DONE A COMPETENT ENOUGH JOB TO HAVE LAUNCHED THE MINIMUM SHELTER APPROACH, THEN TERMINATION OF THE CONTRACT IS IN ORDER. THE FCH FIELD ADVISORS HAVE PERFORMED REMARKABLY WELL, WHILE THE WASHINGTON-BASED EFFORTS (SCOPING THE APPROACH, IDENTIFYING THE PROJECT COUNTRIES AND PREPARING TRAINING MANUALS) HAVE NOT PRODUCED THE RESULTS USUALLY EXPECTED FROM SUCH LARGE EXPENDITURES. AID SHOULD CLARIFY THE EXACT AND SPECIFIC TASKS IT WANTS THE CONTRACTOR TO PERFORM AND STATE THESE WITH PRECISION IN ANY FUTURE PIO/T"S AND PROP"S. THE EVALUATORS MADE SEVERAL SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING (1)USE OF PRIVATE SECTOR TECHNICAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS (TSO"S); (2)SELECTING DEMONSTRATION COUNTRIES; (3)TRAINING AND TRAINING MATERIALS; AND (4)ASSISTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINIMUM SHELTER PROJECTS IN COLOMBIA AND JAMAICA.