Evaluation of PL-480 Title II section 206 project in Mauritania

480 Title II program in Mauritania. External evaluation covers the period 7/83-5/89. The Government of Mauritania (GOM) has at least partially accomplished all four self-help measures: the price of imported wheat is at import parity; a gradual and controlled liberalization is occurring in agricultural input markets; cereal markets are also being decontrolled; and free food distributions have declined. However, the GOM's progress is primarily in less important areas and the impact of these efforts is not concrete. For example, it is difficult to find a direct causal link between the self-help measures as implemented and increases in agricultural production during the program period. Strategically, the program attempts to accomplish too much in too many sectors, and as a result, some of its objectives and policies are conflicting or ambiguous. As an example, the use of import price parity to determine cereal prices has contributed to pricing imported wheat lower than local cereals - an unacceptable situation. The program has also contributed to institutional strengthening, and its internal operations management is extremely strong. Staff development is exceptional, management routines and procedures are in place, and data collection and monitoring information are of high quality. However, while the program has also improved the level of policy dialogue, it has not received the analytic support it requires in this area. In order to strengthen the processes of policy reform and negotiation initiated under the program, it is recommended that a third phase of Title II assistance be approved. Conditions for this phase should focus on cereals planning and market development, since there is substantial potential for growth in this sector. The generation and expenditure of local currency proceeds have followed A.I.D. guidance, though bank liquidity problems seriously threaten the timely use of funds. Also, the Donor Common Fund has failed to increase the effectiveness of local currency expenditures; considerable work is needed to create a strategy for the Fund in order to justify further U.S. contributions. Finally, the use of sorghum, of which Mauritania has substantial surpluses, is creating several problems. The self-targeting commodity concept has had very lttle success and should not be continued in future projects which use sorghum as a subsidy vehicle.