Final report : internal evaluation of cooperative development project, West Bank, Gaza

Internal evaluation covers the period 2/86-6/87; methodology is not indicated. Although activities in Gaza have been delayed, pending the approval of Israeli authorities (which has only recently been received), the project is functioning effectively on the West Bank, having established a clear collaborative relationship with the Palestinian cooperative leadership and members there. After 14 months of operation, 24 training courses have been provided together with approximately 310 person days of short-term TA. These efforts should result in increased production of perishable food, higher producer prices, the improved ability of service cooperatives to deliver essential services (electric, water, etc.), increased incomes, and, over the long run, stable consumer prices. The project has a unique opportunity to affect the role of women in the cooperatives. Not only are women beginning to play key roles in dairy cooperatives, but there are also five women"s cooperatives in existence. The project should develop specific training and TA for the women"s co-ops, and should work with the members and leaders of these co-ops to bring other women"s groups (e.g., charitable and service organizations) to precooperative status. The project should also begin to provide additional training services to co-op members in general, perhaps by expanding the production of educational materials within the library services component. Other recommendations include: (1) improving baseline data collection methods to help in project evaluation; (2) working with officials of the Cairo-Amman Bank to develop project credit activities; (3) developing a long-term U.S. training of trainers program; and (4) extending project life to five years and scheduling subsequent evaluations.