EVALUATION OF THE PARTNERS OF THE AMERICAS

HOWEVER, WITH ONLY 30 TO 200 MEMBERS IN EACH OF THE STATE PARTNERS VISITED, THE PROGRAM IS FAR FROM ITS POTENTIAL. THE EVALUATION WAS HANDICAPPED BY LACK OF RELIABLE STATISTICAL INFORMATION, BUT A STUDY OF 46 PROJECTS SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOPMENT AT A VERY LOW COST TO THE UNITED STATES. DESPITE THE SMALL SIZE OF THEIR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP, THE STATE PARTNERS ARE REASONABLY EFFECTIVE IN OBTAINING THE PARTICIPATION OF THE PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR IN COLLABORATIVE ACTIVITIES WITH THEIR LATIN AMERICAN PARTNERS AND IN STIMULATING PUBLIC AWARENESS. THE LATIN AMERICAN PARTNERS, WITH EVEN MORE LIMITED MEMBERSHIP THAN THEIR US PARTNERS, ARE GENERALLY EFFECTIVE IN DRAWING ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND SOME GOVERNMENTAL RESOURCES FOR MODEST BUT EFFECTIVE PROJECTS WHICH BENEFIT THEIR COUNTRIES. ALL NEED GUIDANCE ON PARTNER OPERATIONS, PROGRAM AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT PRIORITIES. THE EVALUATORS MADE MANY RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING: (1)STATE PARTNERS SHOULD EXPAND THEIR PROGRAMS AND THEIR MEMBERSHIP; AND (2)AID AND THE PARTNERS SHOULD PLAN ON AN ORDERLY PHASE-OUT OF AID FINANCING.