International Institute of Rural Reconstruction : trip report/evaluation, April 30 - May 7, 1983

Evaluation covers the period through 5/83 and is based on site observations and interviews with project officials. At the time, IIRR had an annual budget of about $1.3 million, which was small for its international mission and staff. About half of its funds were from private donors, one third from A.I.D., and the rest from training fees, etc. Due to its limited finances, IIRR devoted much time to fundraising, thus depriving other pursuits. Funds supported three main activities. (1) Education and training, particularly leadership training, were outstanding. Some 585 participants from 37 countries have been trained, and the demand far exceeded IIRR capacity. (2) International extension/outreach to affiliated movements was underfunded: in 1981, only 14% of funds went to extension efforts in other countries - an amount insufficient to meet the needs of sister movements. (3) Field operations, research, and evaluation activities accounted for half of IIRR's expenditures, but of this only a small portion was for research and evaluation. Field operations represented the single most important IIRR activity in terms of funds, staff, time, and energy. However, field projects (in e.g., cooperatives, health, feed production) put IIRR into competition with its affiliates. The evaluator concludes that so many resources went into field operations that IIRR was unable to fulfill research and extension functions. It is recommended that IIRR redistribute its limited resources to devote more to international extension, research, and training and less to field operations, and thus serve international development more fully. (FVA/PVC/ITA abstract. Source: PD-AAT-670, appendix B, page 39)