KASSACK NORD WOMEN"S PROJECT

EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD 4/78 TO 6/80 AND IS BASED ON REVIEW OF PROJECT DOCUMENTS, INTERVIEWS WITH PARTICIPANTS, AND INSPECTION OF PROJECT BUILDINGS. PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW DUE TO ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS IN THE DELTA LANDS MANAGEMENT AND EXPLOITATION SOCIETY (SAED) AND SAED MISUNDERSTANDING (WHICH SHOULD BE CORRECTED) OF AID FINANCIAL PROCEDURES; BUT MOST OF ALL BY THE FACT THAT VILLAGERS MUST SPEND FIVE MONTHS A YEAR IN RICE FIELDS FAR FROM THE VILLAGE. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN DELAYS IN GETTING INPUTS SUCH AS RICE LAND, THE MILLET MILL, AND A DONKEY AND CART FOR HAULING FIREWOOD, INTO PLACE OR OPERATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, A VEGETABLE PRODUCTION PROJECT WAS, UNTIL DISCONTINUED, A SUCCESSFUL FIRST EFFORT IN A JOINT ENTERPRISE. INFLATION AND INITIAL BUDGET UNDER-COSTING REQUIRED A REDUCTION IN CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS, EXPECIALLY IN THE MATERNITY RECOVERY AREA OF THE WOMEN"S CENTER. CONSTRUCTION OF THE LATTER IS NOW 90% COMPLETE. IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT THE CENTER"S STRAW AND PLASTIC ROOFS BE REPLACED BY EITHER CORRUGATED METAL OR ASBESTOS-CEMENT SHEETING. THE PROJECT IS AT A MAJOR TAKE-OFF POINT FOR TEACHING WOMEN SUCH SKILLS AS RECORD-KEEPING, DECISION-MAKING, AND APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY. PROJECT MANAGERS SHOULD BEAR THIS IN MIND AS THE CENTER BECOMES OPERATIONAL AND ADJUST PROJECT DESIGN ACCORDINGLY. LESSONS LEARNED INCLUDE THE NEED FOR SENSITIZING WOMEN TO THE MEANING AND USEFULNESS OF THE PROJECT (THIS HAS BEEN DONE THROUGH SAED TRAINING) AND FOR MAINTAINING ENTHUSIASM FOR THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS FOR MAKING SURE THAT VILLAGERS DO NOT VIEW THE PROJECT AS A GIFT. A LONGER TIMESPAN FOR PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION IS ALSO NEEDED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROJECT BE EXTENDED TO 6/81; THAT THE BUDGET BE INCREASED BY $10,000; AND THAT A WAIVER BE REQUESTED FOR $500 WORTH OF MEDICINES FOR THE MATERNITY CENTER/DISPENSARY.