Evaluation of : the tenure security and land market research project

project development and implementation. The University of Wisconsin Land Tenure Center (LTC) is the primary implementing agency. External evaluation covers the period 8/86-5/90. The project has maintained a high level of responsiveness to Mission and Bureau requests for TA and data on land affairs. Research findings have increased understanding of resource tenure issues and their relation to agriculture and rural development goals and significantly improved Mission and host country capabilities to identify and correct policy and other constraints related directly or indirectly to land affairs. In Haiti for example, the project helped to define a land tenure policy agenda after Duvalier's overthrow. Similar assistance has been provided in Guatemala, Paraguay, Honduras, Saint Lucia, and elsewhere, while in Washington the project has helped to provide timely responses to Congressional inquiries. The longitudinal and cross-country nature of much of the project's research increased the validity of the resulting policy recommendations. While research activities were limited to fewer than half of the countries in the LAC region, this was expected due to the time required to organize, implement, and analyze cross-country and longitudinal research. LTC implementation has been cost-effective because of the Center's extensive experience in the LAC region, effective use of host country research institutions, and relatively low overhead charges and salaries. However, the LTC needs to diversify funding sources for its core staff in order to retain specialists in LAC tenure activities. On the negative side, dissemination of research findings to field practitioners and policymakers has been weak. Although strong efforts in this area have been made by the LTC's Washington-based technical advisor, progress has been limited by the large number of other competing tasks assigned to this position. A follow-on project, with a stronger emphasis on dissemination and a full-time Washington-based technical advisor, is strongly recommended.