Evaluation of the family planning management information system project, MSH-AID/csd 3298

MSH ASSISTED IN WORLDWIDE PROJECT DESIGNED TO INCREASE COVERAGE & IMPROVE QUALITY OF FAMILY PLANNING DELIVERY SYSTEMS & IMPROVE CAPABILITY FOR INTERNAL EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE. EVALUATION FOCUSES ON COMPLIANCE OF MSH CONSULTATIVE/TECHNICAL ACTIVITIES WITH SCOPE OF PROJECT OBJECTIVES BY EXAMINING MSH LONG-TERM ASSIGNMENTS IN KOREA, PHILIPPINES & AFGHANISTAN & SHORT-TERM ASSIGNMENTS IN GHANA & NEPAL. EVALUATION LIMITED TO RESEARCH OF PERTINENT DOCUMENTATION & INTERVIEWS OF AID/W PERSONNEL ASSOCIATED WITH PROJECT IN FIELD. NO OVERSEAS REVIEW OF CONTACT WITH HOST COUNTRY PERSONNEL WAS UNDERTAKEN BY EVALUATORS. MSH JUDGED AS HAVING SATISFACTORILY FULFILLED CONTRACTED COMMITMENTS IN SUPPLYING SPECIALISTS WHO, IN MOST CASES, ATTAINED TECHNICAL OBJECTIVES WHILE DISPLAYING PROPER SENSITIVITY FOR THE HOST COUNTRY SITUTATION. MSH SPECIALISTS SUCCESSFULLY PINPOINTED DEFICIENCIES & PROVIDED GUIDELINES FOR IMPROVEMENT OF GHANA'S FAMILY PLANNING DELIVERY SERVICE;SUPERVISED CONVERSION FROM RUDIMENTARY TO MORE COMPREHENSIVE MGMT INFO SYSTEM FOR THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION OF POPULATION: DEVELOPED IMPROVED ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES WITHIN AFGHANISTAN'S MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH. PROJECT EFFECTIVENESS LIMITED BY MAJOR PERSONNEL TURNOVER IN PHILIPPINE POPULATION COMMISSION;BY INABILITY OF NEPALESE TRAINED IN AUTOCODER LANGUAGE TO UTILIZE MSH-DEVELOPED FORTRAN SYSTEM;BY KOREAN PROJECT TERMINATION DUE TO DIFFERENCES BETWEEN USAID MISSION & AID/W AS TO WHETHER MSH PERSONNEL SHOULD BE OPERATIONALLY INVOLVED IN KOREAN MINISTRY; USAID/K OPPOSED. EVALUATORS JUDGED MSH HEADQUARTERS STAFF COMPETENT IN QUICK RESPONSE TO ASSISTANCE REQUESTS. MSH-GENERATED REPORTS DEEMED TOO ACADEMIC/LENGTHY;EVALUATORS RECOMMENDED UTILIZATION OF SUMMARY FORMAT. AID OFFICIALS INTERVIEWED UNIFORM IN PRAISE OF HIGH CALIBER OF MSH SPECIALISTS. AID/W CHARGED BY EVALUATORS TO AVOID FUTURE MISUNDERSTANDING BY CLEARLY DELINEATING PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND MSH RESPONSIBILITIES