Katalysis North/South Development Partnerships : first annual report to USAID -- a collaborative strategy for sustainability

The report covers FY91. At the time of the grant, KF had three southern partners: Belize Enterprise for Sustained Technology (BEST); Caribbean Advisory and Professional Services (CAPS); and, in Honduras, Organizacion de Desarrollo Empresarial Femenino (ODEF -- the Organization for the Development of Women"s Enterprises). These organizations work primarily with small farmers, women, youth, and microentrepreneurs in three broad programmatic areas: microenterprise development; sustainable agriculture; and women"s community banking. Overall, a great deal of progress was made during the first year of the grant, except with respect to the partner in the Caribbean, CAPS, which decided, for internal reasons, to dissolve itself. KF is currently searching for a partner in Guatemala, to replace CAPS. Examples of institution building efforts during the past year have included the development of sustainable strategies for BEST and ODEF, and the initiation of computerized management systems for these two partners. Examples of field services include the establishment of nine community banks in Honduras (for a total of 19 there), and the introduction of this program to Belize, which has two new banks. In Honduras, research has been conducted on the need for a sustainable agriculture training center; this project will begin next year. In Belize, BEST has continued to promote a revolutionary solar cooking technology; 50 new stoves have been constructed and are in use. The following lessons are beginning to emerge from the first year of implementation: (1) donors are increasingly making grants directly to indigenous organizations, bypassing U.S.-based international development organizations; (2) new technologies and methodologies take a good 2 to 3 years to win acceptance; (3) in a partner organization, KF must stress sound organizational structure; financial accountability; systems for management and planning; and a working Board of Directors; and (4) the KF partnership model is characterized by far more consultation and mutual support than conventional North/South relationships, and thus it promotes joint ownership of projects and programs and ensures interinstitutional understanding and sharing of experiences.