Integrated family farm development : USAID strengthening grant -- final report : August 1994-September 1997 -- USAID grant # FAO-0158-A-00-4026-00

The agreement helped HPI improve and increase its capacity to carry out training and organizational strengthening in the two host countries. A participatory training approach was developed in each. In Uganda, training materials and tools for extensionists and farmer leaders were developed. In Bolivia, a comprehensive resource on participatory training, written with input and review by professionals in more than a dozen countries, is nearing publication. HPI headquarters published "The Cornerstones Model: Values-based Planning and Management" in English and Spanish. The resource is already being widely used throughout HPI"s worldwide program. HPI carried out many training sessions for headquarters and field staff as well as for staff of partner organizations and grassroots organizations and farmers, including numerous workshops on gender analysis, participatory evaluation, training of trainers, planning, sustainable agriculture, and many aspects of livestock health and production. A manual on gender analysis was produced. HPI met or exceeded most of its targets. Almost 4,200 families in the countries directly benefitted, more than double the target of 1,900. In both countries, training of trainers in participatory methods was provided to all partner organizations. Onsite consultation helped these partners through organizational strengthening activities, such as planning and monitoring. In response to an external evaluation carried out during the second year of the grant, several impact studies are being conducted, gender analysis is focusing more closely at the grassroots level, progress has been made with strategic planning and better definition of relationships with partner organizations, and HPI International Programs staff around the world are seriously looking at strategies and implications of moving toward more financial sustainability and autonomy in country programs. A final section of the report discusses lessons learned and long-term implications of the project in regard to economic costs and benefits, institution building, project sustainability, distribution of project benefits, local participation and leadership, technology innovation and transfer, agricultural policy, networking with other agencies, and project replication. (Author abstract, modified)