INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE SERVICE CORPS; AN EVALUATION

BY ALL OBJECTIVE MEASURES, THE IESC IS SUCCESSFUL IN ACHIEVING THESE GOALS. CLIENTS ARE USUALLY WELL PLEASED WITH THE RESULTS OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE VOLUNTEERS AND, BY EXTENSION, ARE FAVORABLY IMPRESSED WITH THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM. THE PROJECTS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOST COUNTRIES IN THE FORM OF INCREASED INCOME, EXPANDED TRADE, INCREASED GOVERNMENT REVENUE, AND/OR INCREASED EMPLOYMENT. THESE BROAD NATIONAL BENEFITS OCCUR IN THE FORM OF SPILLOVERS FROM THE INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE WHICH WAS ASSISTED BY IESC; THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO IDENTIFY WITH PRECISION AND IMPOSSIBLE TO QUANTIFY. IESC NOW HAS OFFICES IN 27 COUNTRIES. THE EVALUATORS SUGGEST USE OF A MORE RIGOROUS INTERNAL REVIEW PROCEDURE BY IESC, TO EVALUATE ON A CONTINUING BASIS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR ITS BEING IN SOME COUNTRIES AND NOT IN OTHERS. BECAUSE MOST INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ARE SUCCESSFUL, AND BECAUSE VIRTUALLY ALL SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROJECTS WILL HAVE SOME DEVELOPMENTAL IMPACT, IESC SHOULD SEEK OUT PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH EITHER GIVE PROMISE OF EXTRAORDINARY IMPACTS OR WHICH OFFER BROAD ECONOMIC OR SOCIAL BENEFITS AS DIRECT BY-PRODUCTS OF THE PROJECT PURPOSES THEMSELVES. IN GENERAL, IESC HEADQUARTERS SHOULD IMPACT A MORE DISCIPLINED SENSE OF PROGRAM FORMULATION TO ITS COUNTRY DIRECTORS, THOUGH THEY MUST BE LEFT WITH THE DISCRETION TO DEVISE SOUND PROGRAMS IN THEIR INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES. THE EVALUATORS FOUND IESC TO BE ESSENTIALLY A CONSTRUCTIVE AND WORTHWHILE PROGRAM. IT ACHIEVES ITS GOALS IN THE LARGE MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS, AND IT DOES SO AT A COST WHICH IS GENERALLY REASONABLE.