Mid-term review of the voluntary sector development project in Jamaica

Mid-term, external evaluation covers the period 7/83-6/86 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with project and PVO personnel. Progress in achieving the project purpose, as amended, was evinced when United Way of Jamaica (UWJ) was incorporated in 1/85 into the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS), a PVO umbrella organization, and introduced the United Way model of fundraising. It should be noted, however, that UWJ initially adopted United Way of America's "Full-Service" organizational model, which does not stress the development of fundraising as the single or primary organizational function but makes it one program component among many others. Other United Way models, more appropriate for a United Way in its initial stages, are available and they should be identified and used. Activities during the 17 months since UWJ's founding have included planning, staffing the administrative headquarters in Kingston and regional offices in May Pen and Montego Bay, establishing financial systems for CVSS and CVSS/UWJ, and training board members and staff in the theory and operations of the United Way. Another significant activity has been the creation of a highly professional and tightly managed process for allocating project funds of $2 million plus the equivalent in local currency to local PVO projects. The allocation process includes a built in system of PVO program and fiscal accountability. An additional need is for UWJ to establish a program monitoring system which affords a key role to CVSS in monitoring the provision of assistance and services to PVO's. There is convincing evidence that UWJ will be able to raise at least 1.5 million Jamaican dollars for the 1986-87 year. Strong local support has been established, particularly in the private for-profit sector. The United Way concept of fundraising and distributing funds to human service organizations has captured the imagination and support of leaders in the Jamaican business and professional community. UWJ has mobilized a strong cadre of volunteers from these communities - its first pilot campaign (1985/86) received pledges of more than 1 million Jamaican dollars from the corporate community, about 10% of which were in in-kind contributions. In addition, the Government of Jamaica has shown its support through financial contributions. UWJ also benefits from its link to the historically powerful CVSS.