Mid-point program evaluation of Jamaica/Western New York Partners of the Americas, Partners Voluntary Technical Assistance Service (PAVTAS)

External, mid-point evaluation covers the period 9/82-3/85 and is based on site visits, document review, and interviews with project personnel and beneficiaries. PA has made significant progress toward project objectives. An effective, operational staff and administrative infrastructure has been established at both the Jamaica and the Western New York offices. Membership in the JA"s skills bank has grown from 6 in 1983 to 83 (77 individuals and 6 corporations), and WNY"s skills bank has grown to 66 individual members. General membership at JA now stands at 98 individuals and 28 corporations, and WNY has 38 individual and 1 corporate members. JA skills bank volunteers have provided TA to 329 individuals and 17 Jamaican agencies; beneficiaries report a high level of satisfaction with the quality of the TA. However, progress in other areas is less impressive. While both offices have potentially profitable fundraising strategies, little effort has been made to put them into practice, and theoffices depend mainly on in-kind contributions from members; JA has also received some donations to specific nonproject activities. JA"s resource library is incomplete, and although some didactic material developed during TA workshop is on file in print, it has not been converted to electronic media; also, no computer links have been established with associated agencies. Relations between the two offices were strained during the first 2 years of the OPG. While this problem seems to be resolved, cooperative activities such as the pairing of Jamaican and U.S. trainers to form TA delivery teams have not been undertaken. Nor do perceptions on both sides always coincide regarding such issues as the project"s role in the total PA program, the nature of the flow of TA from South to North, and the application of the nonprofit criterion. A 1-year extension, including increased efforts in fundraising, TA delivery, and JA-WNY cooperation, is recommended.