Evaluation of Technoserve activities in El Salvador, 1982-1985

Special evaluation covers the period 9/82-8/85 and is based on document review, site visits and interviews with Technoserve, Inc. (TNS), Salvadoran Federation of Agrarian Reform Cooperatives (FESACORA), and co-op personnel. TNS has been very successful both in directly assisting primary level co-ops and in strengthening FESACORA. TNS has increased the productivity of most of the 18 primary co-ops it has aided, improved their efficiency, and converted operating losses into net gains. On the national level, TNS has strengthened FESACORA"s organizational structure and directed its resources toward providing affiliated co-ops (200-plus) with a variety of services such as intermediation, management assistance, and legal aid. Every project target but one was exceeded by 4/85; by 10/85 all will have been exceeded, some very substantially. TNS" major strengths are its programs for co-op member education, which are participatory in nature, with well-designed teaching materials; and its methodologies for diagnostic and feasibility studies and planning. The members of many of FESACORA"s affiliated co-ops have achieved significant social benefits (housing, water, education, health care) since the founding of the co-ops and their affiliation with FESACORA. There appears to be growing support for FESACORA; 77% of affiliated co-ops are satisfied with FESACORA services. FESACORA"s weakest areas are farm management, planning, and financial management. FESACORA personnel, while young and enthusiastic, lack experience and will require guidance and advice for some time. It is too early to assess FESACORA"s economic strength, as very few income-producing activities have yet been developed. Four regional cooperatives, formed between 12/84-2/85, compete with FESACORA, but are at a lower level of development (comparable to that of FESACORA 2 years ago). Though some co-ops resigned from FESACORA to join one of the regionals, a number of them later returned. The regional cooperatives appear to have been created largely for political ends, and should not receive A.I.D. assistance unless they begin to demonstrate a service mentality toward their affiliates.