CRS assistance to Djibouti : African refugee and needy persons relief

Evaluation covers the period 9/79-9/80 and is based on site visits and document review. While Catholic Relief Service"s (CRS) overall contribution to mitigating the refugee problem has exceeded expectations, its ability to upgrade the institutional capability of the GROD Office National d"Assistance aux Refugies et aux Sinistres (ONARS) has been unimpressive. Increased inputs from other donors -- triggered by a drought and the growing flow of refugees -- and the replacement of an experienced CRS assistant with an inexperienced one strained the management capabilities of both CRS and ONARS. Although CRS and ONARS have developed a reasonably sound P.L. 480 Title II commodity accounting system, ONARS"s warehouses (especially the central warehouse) are in a state of disarray, and stock records and physical inventory have not been reconciled. Nonetheless, CRS intends, with the help of an additional assistant, to stress warehouse management training in order to build on ONARS"s proven ability to transport commodities from Djibouti port to inland distribution centers and to maintain storage and accounting procedures. Other CRS activities to assist refugees were more successful, especially when compared to other donors" efforts. CRS implemented housing development and irrigation repair and expansion projects based on food for work; began collecting recipient fees in order to make the maternal/child health program self-sustaining; and worked with AID-established fish cooperatives (Project 6030003) to provide added protein to refugees" diets. It is recommended that: (1) AID/W evaluate the above refugee outreach efforts; (2) USAID/D, CRS, the GROD, ONARS, and other donors coordinate their activities and determine CRS"s future role in providing technical assistance to ONARS; and (3) CRS assign a full-time assistant to address ONARS"s food management requirements.