Evaluation report : Francophone Regional Advisory Committee (FRAC)

Assistance to FRAC consisted of organizing and facilitating annual meetings to discuss FP management issues. The evaluation is based on semi-structured interviews with FRAC participants. No time-frame is specified. FRAC has developed into a very important organization in FP management in Haiti and Francophone Africa, playing key roles as (1) a locus for a cohesive FP community in what had previously been a fragmented environment, and (2) a forum for exchange of experiences and lessons learned. Interviewees were able to cite specific examples of positive impact from their FRAC participation, including improvements in the areas of acceptance of population and FP activities, integration of FP services, supervision and quality of services, decentralization, private sector support, and relations with the donor community. FRAC's experience shows that it is possible to establish an informal FP network in areas where the subject remains controversial. However, FRAC is at a critical stage in its development; key issues include the need to: search for alternative funding sources, and especially for support during the likely shift from USAID sponsorship; rethink the format of the annual meetings and other aspects of FRAC; maintain greater participant interaction between the annual meetings; and allow the program to quickly and easily incorporate ideas developed within the context of the FRAC, both during and between meetings. While all those interviewed stressed that the FRAC should continue, most supported significant changes. Their suggestions related to (1) upgrading FRAC's institutional structure and raising its profile (including establishing formal institutional structures such as a permanent secretariat and governing board, forming closer linkages with the political processes in Francophone Africa and with the FP community in Anglophone Africa, and formalizing the requirements for FRAC membership and the membership selection process); (2) allowing more member country participation in the preparation of the annual meetings; (3) increasing follow-up support during the inter-meeting period; and (4) improving relations with agencies outside Francophone Africa, and with the donor community.