CRS/Djibouti; outreach grant, AID/SOD/PDC-G-0356

480 Title II food distribution project in Djibouti. Evaluation covers the period 2/80-12/81 and is based on site visits and document review. Catholic Relief Services/Djibouti (CRS), working with the Government of Djibouti"s Office National d"Assistance aux Refugies et aux Sinistres (ONARS), has annually distributed 5,701 MT of food to 42,500 people. Included in this number are 15,000 maternal/child health program participants, 4,500 school feeding recipients, 3,750 Food for Work participants, and 25,000 refugees (receiving 3,790 MT of food). Imports from both A.I.D. and other donors have arrived on time and have been efficiently warehoused and delivered. Commodity storage facilities are presently adequate but will be filled to capacity by early 1982. To address this, CRS has assigned ONARS a full-time warehousing advisor. The availability of sufficient transport -- eight vehicles puchased and additional vehicles and boats rented or provided by other donors -- has permitted timely transport of commodities from the port to recipients. Because ONARS has expanded the number of paid project workers, however, funds allocated for salaries are inadequate. It is recommended that: (1) A.I.D. disburse final tranche funds upon assurance that CRS develops a firm understanding with ONARS regarding salaries and submits an annual report; (2) alternative funding for post-FY83 refugee feeding be sought; (3) outreach activities be evaluated vis-a-vis the refugee situation, alternative funding sources, and the role of ONARS; (4) CRS continue to improve commodity handling and storage; (5) other donors be approached regarding eventual replacement of vehicles; and (6) CRS initiate a Food for Work program to mobilize available refugee labor and reduce the burden of refugee support.