Final evaluation of OPG project no. 517-0146 : women"s training and advisory services

Special final evaluation covers the period 2/82-8/84 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with APEC, the APEC Promotion of Women Training Center (PROMAPEC), and credit institution personnel, and with trainers and beneficiaries. The project surpassed its targets in most cases, having provided human development, skills, literacy, and/or microenterprise training to 2,454 women in the Capotillo barrio. Training was provided at PROMAPEC and at three major skills training centers which at APEC"s urging modified their curricula to accomodate women. Literacy training was added to the project as 15.4% of the women had no formal education at all. Counseling (on legal, financial, and personal matters) did not meet targets due to lack of beneficiary demand, and employment referrals were deemphasized as job opportunities in the barrio were few; even so more than 100 businesses were contacted during the last 4 months of the project. A sample of 298 trainees indicates that 46% were working at project end - most self-employed - with an average monthly income of RD$38 (vs. RD$2 before training). RD$300 were made to 108 women through the Dominican Development Foundation, which, however, did not provide follow-up assistance. While both human development and skills training were very successful, the wisdom of the project"s emphasis on nontraditional skills, promoted by foreign planners, is arguable given the poor economic conditions in Capotillo and the hesitance of barrio women to enter traditionally male fields. Nonetheless, 16% of the women sampled are working in electrical repair or the printing trade. Dropout rates overall were high, probably because of trainees" lack of resources (psychological, physical, and economic), showing that extensive promotional efforts are essential when working with disadvantaged groups. Demand for project services remains high; 60 applications for loans and 779 for training are pending. Recommendations are made for follow-on activities in Capotillo, and it is noted that PROMAPEC has expanded into a second Santo Domingo barrio using counterpart ESF funds.