Evaluation of PL-480 Title II funded CRS and CARE Food for Work program in selected Luzon provinces

Special evaluation covers the period 1978-80 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project recipients. FFW projects were beneficial to poor families and communities as a whole. Agricultural and economic development led to self-sufficiency in food production, an increase in income and better transport of products and people due to construction and repair of roads. Community development prevented floods and erosion and enhanced land improvement, community organization, education, health, and nutrition by construction and repair of many community facilities. Improvements in the material and social well-being of poor families included food assistance, cash compensation, an increase in rice harvest, as well as social, educational, health, and recreational benefits. Of the 20 projects surveyed, only three had not accomplished their objectives due to technical deficiencies. All the FFW projects promoted community development, i.e., community consciousness and cooperation by project recipients. Few recipients cited lack of work as a reason for participating. Only one project did not generate other food production and community development efforts. Sample FFW projects which contribute to food production and economic development are communal vegetable gardens, irrigation systems, feeder roads, drainage canals, and dike and ditch filling projects. However, technical difficulties did constrain two projects and purposes were not achieved. Survey findings show a strong sense of cooperation among recipients, with the majority joining FFW projects primarily to help in community development. This accounts for their pledge of continued project support even without food payments.