Evaluation of the factors of sustainability in The Gambia mass media and health practices project

support was withdrawn. Although some elements of the project methodology are still in use, the Gambian government has been unable to continue project activities at a satisfactory level. Sustainability problems began with the project design. From the outset, a premium was placed on the development and refinement of the experimental health intervention techniques, the assumption being that if the techniques were successful the project would be continued; little attention was given to sustainability. Second, the project's time frame was too short - the project was planned to last 2 years and was extended a third, when A.I.D. experience shows that most projects take 5 years or more to institutionalize new techniques. Lack of a formal long-term training component also adversely affected sustainability. When the project ended there were not enough trained Gambians to run the communications program, and there was no phased plan for the withdrawal of technical assistance - the project was terminated abruptly when A.I.D./W and USAID/G could not agree on how to structure future assistance. When A.I.D. pulled out, most project activities simply stopped. The Gambia experience raises important questions about A.I.D.'s responsibility in a pilot research and development effort. Clearly, A.I.D. should have explored ways in which the Gambian government could have assumed financial responsibility for the project and - given the high cost of developing new approaches to health education - project designers should make specific plans for sustainability if the pilot approach proves successful. A plan for phased withdrawal of donor assistance is essential. Includes bibliography (1978-86).