Evaluation guidelines for nonproject assistance : commodity import programs (CIP"s) and CIP-like activities

management with guidelines for evaluating two types of nonproject assistance activities (that is, activities aimed at rapidly infusing foreign exchange or commodities into a nation"s economy) - Commodity Import Programs (CIP"s), which finance the foreign exchange costs of commodity procurement and shipping for developing countries, and CIP-like programs, such as agricultural development loans to provide for commodity imports established with Economic Support Fund or Development Assistance funding. The report, based on a review of past CIP evaluations by A.I.D. and the World Bank, focuses on both the procedural and substantive aspects of evaluation. Individual sections of the report treat: (1) the theory and practice of CIP and CIP-like programs; (2) the main areas of concern in evaluating these programs (program management, a consideration of particular importance in CIP programs; achievement of objectives; intended and unintended impacts within the recipient country; and lessons learned); (3) the evaluation scope of work; (4) preparatory work such as preparing data collection instruments, training interviewers, and interviewing U.S. officials in the host country; and (5) major issues affecting the program"s economic impact (policy reform, the targeting of commodities and beneficiaries, foreign exchange rates, and local currency programming). Particular stress is laid on problems in tracing the end uses of A.I.D. resources and on ways evaluators can establish a causal link between A.I.D. assistance and various economic impacts (e.g., on selected economic sectors, on balance of payments, on equity, and on private firms). A presentation of indicators for measuring the program"s effectiveness in key areas leads to some brief, concluding suggestions regarding the physical preparation of the report. Appended are sample questionnaires, suggested outlines for a CIP evaluation report and for scopes of work for evaluating both a CIP and a CIP-like program, and a review of selected World Bank evaluation documents.