Mid-term evaluation (March 1985) : WI assistance to PVOs in animal agriculture

Special evaluation covers the period 8/81-3/85 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with and/or questionnaire responses from project and USAID personnel and beneficiaries. WI's program has been well designed and supportive of A.I.D.'s technology transfer policy. WI has helped PVO's and host country agencies keep up with developments in animal agriculture through its information service, including a computerized data base of 12,000 references (possibly the largest block of references on goats and sheep in the world, although the size of the computer system exceeds WI's needs) and mailings of its BULLETIN and TECHNOTES to 2,022 organizations. WI has also developed and published region-specific training aids, books, manuals, and slide and videotape presentations. Two-week workshops on sheep and goat production have been conducted in the Philippines, Honduras, and Indonesia for 127 participants (including instructors). The workshops have incorporated practical experience and animal demonstrations. The key to effective workshops has been selecting a local leader to organize the workshop, find instructors, and arrange field demonstrations. Training trainers in technology transfer is a slow way of producing change, however, and A.I.D. must make a long-term commitment if it expects results. WI has only limited capacity to provide TA (which is done only on a cost reimbursement basis). WI has responded to a total of 21 requests for TA, of which 6 were for on-site TA (in Dominica, Kenya, Panama, and the Dominican Republic). Agencies in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Nigeria, Zaire, and the United States have also benefited from WI services. It is recommended that A.I.D. continue to support WI activities by priority of (1) workshops, (2) information services, (3) technical services, and (4) BULLETIN and TECHNOTES publication; and that A.I.D. consider interim funding while WI prepares a follow-up multiyear matching grant proposal.