EVALUATION; PROJECT 698-0391 REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEVELOPMENT : AFRICA CO-OPERATIVE SAVINGS AND CREDIT ASSOCIATION/DIRECTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CREDIT (ACOSCA/DAPC)

ACOSCA HAD MADE NO PROGRESS TOWARD ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND THE EVALUATORS CONSIDER THIS AN UNREALISTIC OBJECTIVE AT THIS TIME. WITH REGARD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ASSOCIATIONS (LEAGUES), THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE PILOT COUNTRIES IN EITHER ECONOMIC OR TECHNICAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY. IN BOTH CAMEROON AND LESOTHO, THE NATIONAL LEAGUES HAVE INSUFFICIENT INCOME TO MEET EXPENSES, ARE DEPENDENT UPON DONOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, PROVIDE MINIMAL SERVICES TO THEIR MEMBER CREDIT UNIONS, AND DO NOT HAVE DEVELOPMENT PLANS WHICH WOULD LEAD TO ECONOMIC AND TECHNICAL SELF-SUFFIENCY. THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDED THAT LIMITED BUT SATISFACTORY PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN DEVELOPING DIRECTED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CREDIT (DAPC) PROGRAMS IN CAMEROON AND LESOTHO. IN EACH COUNTRY, THREE PILOT CREDIT UNIONS HAVE DAPC PROGRAMS IN OPERATION, PILOT UNION OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN PRODUCTION CREDIT PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES, POTENTIAL BORROWERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THE PRINCIPLES OF PRODUCTION CREDIT, AND LOANS ARE BEING MADE AND COLLECTED. GENERALLY, COLLECTIONS HAVE BEEN GOOD AND DELINQUENCIES LOW. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS PROJECT BE REVISED AND CONTINUED,PROVIDED THAT THE LEAGUES MEET CERTAIN CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. THEY MADE SEVERAL OTHER PROJECT-SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS.