Final report : evaluation of USAID Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) grants to [7] private voluntary organizations for humanitarian assistance in Honduras in response to Hurricane Mitch

The grantees were: Aldea Global (PAG), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), HOPE, Save the Children (STC), World Relief, and World Vision. The grants focused on immediate disaster relief, food, housing, water/sanitation, and health, but there was also an agricultural component. Overall, the grants were extremely successful, timely, and appropriate to the needs following Hurricane Mitch. The 7 PVOs used their already developed local networks to obtain effective results. Local governments demonstrated their capability for leadership. The immediate emergency needs for food, shelter, medicine, and health care were met adequately and in a timely manner. There was good overall cooperation among local communities and national and international organizations with almost no duplication of services. USAID's rapid response in providing funding in the first phase facilitated the effective action of the PVOs. This rapid response generally continued in the second phase, with the exception of CRS and, more recently, STC, where disbursements have taken up to a month. USAID funding helped with temporary shelter and (in the second phase of the grants) supported more long-term housing solutions, including about 3,000 (planned) housing units. Effective action has been taken, although with some delays, towards repairing water and sanitation systems. Local health systems linked to the PVOs received grant support to help stave off epidemics and treat those affected by the disaster. There were no serious epidemics after the disaster. Reconstruction projects (roads, schools) received some support, as did agriculture (tools, seeds). The Emergency Title II Food for Work (FFW) program, while not directly supported by this project, worked synergistically with it to produce very positive results. There were logistical difficulties in the procurement and distribution of some materials. Skilled workers were hard to find. Not all mayors were leaders, but this project demonstrated the overwhelmingly positive impact of strong local networks and institutions. The generally positive experience of having worked together in the face of disaster, of having seen tangible results, has brought a new positive "can-do" spirit to many Honduran communities, a spirit that is still alive and could be used to spark new change and development. In addition to the cooperation shown by the villagers and city-dwellers throughout Honduras, the cooperation and coordination between the seven PVOs and between them and the larger PVO, NGO, and international cooperation community are remarkable. The dissonant notes sounded in this regard by the PVOs had to do with the World Food Program (WFP), the Honduran Social Investment Fund (FHIS), and, to a lesser extent, COPECO (in the south) and the central government. On the down side, Hurricane Mitch destroyed much infrastructure in Honduras, including cropland, agricultural development, businesses, and roads, and if the economic outlook of Honduras does not improve, unemployment will soar. Also, it is highly unlikely that the self-confidence and the positive community spirit which came from the rebuilding efforts is sustainable. Includes reports on the individual PVOs. (Author abstract, modified)