Family planning assistance through home economics (American Home Economics Association)

Final PES covers the period 9/77-5/80 and is based on onsite visits to five countries. The American Home Economics Association (AHEA) has provided knowledge about FP to national leaders, teachers, and extension agents in 39 countries; it has been most successful in countries having a home economics infrastructure, professional training institutions, or extension programs. Full integration of FP with home economics was achieved in only five countries (Sierra Leone, Ghana, the Philippines, Jamaica, and Thailand), although it is possible in another three or four countries if the project were to be extended through 1983. Of the countries visited, all except Panama had strong programs which included a large number of training materials and workshops, high level technical assistance, and extensive volunteer networks. The major unplanned effect has been the broad dissemination of AHEA training and resource materials, which have been translated into six languages, adapted for use in nine cultures, and are requested and used worldwide. Overall, however, the project was only a moderate success. The number of successfully completed projects is small, given the project"s long (10-year) timeframe. This has been due to the lack of carefully focused, goal-oriented country programs; poor choice of countries and/or field personnel; and poor management and inadequate guidance from AHEA headquarters -- factors which have resulted in erratically spaced activities, low field morale, and little support from USAID"s in many countries. Although the project has provided FP information to 4,000 home economists and 100,000 rural women, its actual impact has not been demonstrated due to a lack of appropriate recordkeeping and evaluation procedures. Because AHEA has not evidenced the management capability to develop or administer the program effectively, the project--which has demonstrated the viability of using professional women"s groups to promote FP--will be terminated at the end of the present grant period. If the project were to be continued, a strong evaluation component should be included from the outset and firm country program goals should be established.