Kaolack agricultural enterprise development program

Interim evaluation covers the period 9/92-9/95. The project is being implemented by AFRICARE. Major findings are as follows. (1) While KAED addresses the major concerns of the rural populations, its management by objective approach is not very efficient. (2) Fewer and fewer ABEs exceed 50 members, with women making up over 80% of the whole. This particular make-up does not affect the choice of ABE activities. (3) Despite KAED training programs, ABE members lack sufficient management skills to conduct income-generating activities. ABEs also lack data on soil fertility and crop distribution. (4) ABE proceeds from income-generating activities, although positive, are insufficient. (5) Women"s involvement in KAED is severely constrained by sociocultural factors. (6) There is no formal and reliable system for collecting baseline data and the information generated is generally underutilized. Two lessons have been learned. First, income-generating ABEs are a good way to promote rural entrepreneurship. Second, without adequate baseline data and benchmarks established early on, data collected during implementation is difficult to use in assessing the project"s impact. (Author abstract, modified)