Integral rural development II

Evaluation, based on the attached interim evaluation (XD-AAJ-402-A), covers the period 8/79-7/80. Although it is too early to measure specific outputs, it is clear that the PDRI has been hampered by political turbulence, a weak economy, and especially by its operation under the de facto authority of the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR). A Costa Rican Government austerity program impeded hiring of necessary personnel and limited project activities to three of the six planned geographical areas. Activity in a fourth area is scheduled for late 1981; work in the remaining two areas will be delayed until at least 1982. Given these problems plus the BCCR"s weak orientation to grassroots development and its unresponsiveness to the needs of the PDRI, USAID/CR effected the transfer of the project to the Ministry of Agriculture (MAG) in 3/81. The project is now operating in a much more responsive environment, is receiving greater technical and budgetary support, has been supplied vehicles, and is cooperating with the MAG"s technical divisions. Hence, the prospects for making credit available at the local level are much improved. Following the interim evaluation, USAID management responsibility was transferred from the Office of Urban and Regional Development to the Office of Rural Development. It is recommended that the logical framework be revised regarding inputs and beneficiaries to reflect the above changes, and that small interim evaluations be conducted to assess the effect of transferring the project from the BCCR to the MAG. Project experience has quite clearly demonstrated the inadvisability of wedding two disparate institutions (i.e., the PDRI and the BCCR) regardless of how expedient the arrangment may at first appear.