Final evaluation : southwest regional reforestation project 686-0934

The evaluation covers the period 6/85-6/89. Despite an 18-month lapse between the official project start date and actual implementation, the project achieved its quantitative and qualitative indicators. It developed a sound infrastructure of trained and generally motivated forestry agents with adequate office, lodging, and means of transport. The project also increased villagers' awareness of environmental degradation as well as their understanding of methods to combat this deterioration. These achievements are due in part to Africare's recruitment of a former Peace Corps forester familiar with the area, as well as the diligence of MET personnel. In addition, project activities coincided with national environmental initiatives related to the continuing influx of refugees from the devastated area of northern Burkina. The Government of Burkina Faso (GOBF) and Africare agree that there is an outstanding need to continue project activities and have begun to develop proposals for expanding on these successes. The delay in implementation was caused by disagreement between Africare and the GOBF after USAID/BF approval of the project design. The major lesson learned is that a tripartite agreement between USAID/BF, Africare, and the GOBF instead a sequence of agreements might have prevented the delay.