Evaluation of the Florida Association of Voluntary Agencies for Caribbean Action

External evaluation covers 1983-85. FAVA/CA has made substantial progress in implementing OPG activities; it has prepared a resource directory, conducted bimonthly fora, sent over 100 speakers to public and private groups throughout Florida, published its newsletter (Communique) regularly and initiated the smaller Monthly Highlights, developed a computerized resource system containing a volunteer skill bank and a system to match these skills with requests for help, and sponsored seminars in Haiti on public health, dentistry, and tuberculosis. Two activities planned for FAVA/CA members - seminars/training and organizational development programs - have not materialized due to lack of demand. Despite these achievements, FAVA/CA has made only a modest contribution to development. The number of volunteers who have actually provided service in Haiti or Belize during the past 3 years has been limited, as has the amount of resources and donations mobilized (with the exception of one very large donation) and the amount of cash and in-kind contributions to support operations. There has been little or no follow-on to the early seminars in Haiti. Further, FAVA/CA has not developed its programs and activities in response to A.I.D. requirements and interests; no FAVA/CA staff member has consulted with USAID/Haiti and few USAID/H project managers are aware of FAVA/CA or its potential services. Additionally, relationships between FAVA/CA and its counterpart agency, the Haitian Association of Voluntary Agencies, soured notably in 1984 and 1985, though this was not wholly FAVA/CA"s fault. In sum, despite some major strengths (its close association with institutions in Florida, its potential for mobilizing retirees and others for volunteer work, its positive image), FAVA/CA has revealed a number of distinct weaknesses: lack of experience in LDC"s and with donor agencies, lack of follow-up, a passive approach to providing and marketing services, the absence of a clearly definable constituency either at home or abroad, and inadequate planning. The Association lacks the personnel, systems, and budget needed to implement the ambitious program planned for 1986. Further, it has not demonstrated progress toward achieving the 50-50 counterpart contribution by the third year of the project. Although the evaluator did not make a specific recommendation whether A.I.D. should continue to support FAVA/CA or not, the Agency, upon reviewing the evaluation, decided (cf. PD-AAY-748) to provide only $75,000 to FAVA/CA through 9/86 as its final contribution.