Mid-term evaluation of cooperative agreement (OTR-0158-A-00-8158-00) with Lutheran World Relief (LWR)

Midterm evaluation covers the period 9/88-10/90. Major grant objectives are being attained, and the project is a wise use of A.I.D. resources. LWR is funding 124 projects in the 13 countries included in the matching grant. Only 37 of these projects are officially under the grant (vs. a target of 80), according to LWR, but this represents LWR's choice to avoid fulfilling A.I.D.'s reporting requirements for each project. LWR assistance was found satisfactory in almost all the cases reviewed. Except in Niger, LWR's assistance is indirect, i.e., takes place through partner agencies, usually NGO's. These include intermediary partners which offer a national perspective and through which LWR can extend assistance to grassroots partners. LWR has chosen partners which are capable and willing -- particularly impressive is its use of major intermediary agencies in India, which enable LWR to maintain relationships with many projects without having its own staff in the country. In Niger, LWR has a unique, intense presence, deriving from a commitment in the early 1970's to address the special needs of that country and from the fact that the Government of Niger insisted that NGO's work through government agencies. The grant objective of influencing host country governments is unrealistic and should be modified to state that LWR will support host country development activities that are in accord with LWR development goals.