Final report and evaluation of the Panama OPG

Final evaluation covers the period 9/78-8/81; no methodology is given. An office in the Ministry of Housing (MIVI) was made responsible for HC development. Ten MIVI staff were trained in cooperative housing and existing HC's were reviewed. MIVI was instrumental in establishing a Consultative Committee for HC's (CCHC), which includes MIVI, the National Mortgage Bank (BHN), the Panamanian Foundation for Cooperative Housing (FUNDAVICO), and the Panamanian Federation of Credit Unions (FEDPA), the Panamanian Cooperative Institute, the Ministry of Planning and Economic Policy, and a representative from the cooperative housing movement. Unfortunately, a change in ministers caused MIVI to lose interest in using HC's to provide housing for the poor. CCHC development and the formation of an HC policy and program have been suspended. FUNDAVICO has tentatively developed a prototype for its proposed pipeline of HC programs in urban and rural areas, for which FUNDAVICO will guaranty the construction financing and BHN provide the long-term mortgage money. FUNDAVICO could not, however, locate donors to finance either of the two targeted rural projects. It did guaranty construction of an urban cooperative, but the latter's members were not those of the target group. The plan for FUNDAVICO to undertake a $500,000 capital investment program is still pending. FUNDAVICO markets educational and technical services to HC's and provides some services gratis to groups organizing HC's. FEDPA's committed $100,000 for 250 home improvement (HI) loans to credit union members; prepared a manual to train its staff and field agents in the HI program; and was able to adapt the existing credit union loan system for use in the HI program. FEDPA is now able to serve as a channel for other institutional sources of shelter finance.