Lessons learned evaluation of the economic support fund program in Senegal (ESF I, II, and III)

Lessons learned evaluation covers FY 1983-85 and is based on interviews with design team members and GOS officials, and document review. The ESF program has undoubtedly brought timely, much needed reforms to Senegal and helped to prevent the GOS from falling into economic collapse. The program has been a major factor in the GOS"s reduction of its budget deficit by 50% and its balance of payments deficit by 45% since 1983. ESF-engendered reforms in the agricultural sector are reducing farmer reliance on the GOS, its parastatals, and its pricing policies; encouraging greater use of private agricultural marketing channels; and helping to reduce the parastatal drain on the GOS budget. The program has also incidentally served to strengthen the economic capacity of USAID/S and to improve interdepartmental coordination within the Mission. Subsequent ESF programs in Senegal should perform economic, political, and cost-benefit analyses to judge the potential impact of ESF reforms and minimize disruptions caused by structural adjustments. The timing and implementation of the reforms so far have matched GOS ability and readiness to respond, but future steps should be timed to minimize their political and economic consequences. It is also recommended that program design documents clearly define and quantify "end of reform" conditions (e.g., identify target ranges for improvements within a specified time frame); USAID/S design agricultural projects that mesh with and contribute to ESF reform goals; and the ESF program separate its goals from the IMF standby targets, in order to ensure the level of analysis needed to produce a sound, coherent program.