INVIERNO (INSTITUTO DE BIENESTAR CAMPESINO); THE FIRST YEAR; AN EVALUATION OF AID LOAN 524-L-031

LIMITED PROGRESS IS ALSO BEING MADE IN MOC (MOTIVATION-ORGANIZATION-CAPACITATION) ACTIVITIES RELATED TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND SEVERAL PILOT ACTIVITIES ARE UNDERWAY. CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN SIGNED TO BEGIN WORK IN MARKETING, APPLIED RESEARCH, MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT, LAND SALE GUARANTY, AND ACCESS ROADS EFFORTS. CONTRACTS ARE PENDING FOR HEALTH AND HOUSING ACTIVITIES. INVIERNO MET, EXCEEDED, OR CAME VERY CLOSE TO MEETING ALL IMPORTANT INPUT TARGETS AND SOME OUTPUT TARGETS IN ITS FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION. THE ENTIRE OPERATIONAL SYSTEM IS VERY EFFECTIVE. ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT COMPLETELY FUNCTIONAL, NOR HAS IT COMPLETED A TOTAL ANNUAL CYCLE, THE EVALUATORS ARE CONFIDENT THAT REMAINING WORK ON THE SYSTEM WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED, AND THAT IT WILL BE EXPANDED. THE EVALUATORS MADE MANY SUGGESTIONS ABOUT POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENTS AND CHANGES TO THE SYSTEM. THEIR FOUR SIGNIFICANT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE: (1)INVIERNO SHOULD CAREFULLY ANALYZE THE IMPLICATIONS AND PROCESS OF "GRADUATION", (2)INVIERNO SHOULD RESIST BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL EFFORTS TO EXPAND INTO NEW PROGRAMS OR NEW AREAS BEFORE IT HAS REASONED CONFIDENCE IN ITS ABILITY TO DO SO; (3)A SENIOR LEVEL CREDIT COMMITTEE SHOULD REVIEW ALL LOAN AUTHORIZATION OVER $10,000 AND EMIT ITS OPINION BEFORE DISBURSEMENT; AND (4)INVIERNO SHOULD PLACE A CEILING ON THE AMOUNT OF A LOAN MADE TO A FARMER FOR A SINGLE CROPPING SEASON. THE EVALUATORS REVIEWED INVIERNO'S INSTITUTION BUILDING EXPERIENCE, AND THEY DISCUSSED THE INVIERNO PROGRAMS; AGRICULTUAL CREDIT; MARKETING; APPLIED RESEARCH; LAND SALE GUARANTY; MOC; ACCESS ROADS; MUNICIPAL DEVELOPMENT; HOUSING; AND SMALL RURAL ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT.