Midterm evaluation report : the Agency for International Development/Government of Guatemala project in non-formal education

Mid-point external evaluation covers the period through 6/85 and is based on document review and interviews with project personnel and members of the National NFE Board's Secretariat for Coordination. The project is behind schedule and, although good progress is now being made in several important areas, the administrative capacity of the Secretariat - a small, relatively new institution which under the project acquired significant new management burdens - remains in question. TA has been of only limited success, due to the weakness of the Secretariat's administrative foundation and to uncertainty regarding advisors' roles. Problems in budgeting, procurement, and staff recruitment - exacerbated by a serious economic crisis - have delayed the project and undermined good work in content areas. The Secretariat's effectiveness has been further hampered by ambiguity in its sense of mission. Although not yet capable of coordinating the activities of other institutions (and often many of its own), it has been reluctant to give up its own direct service activities in favor of coordination and support functions. Activities in content areas, especially at the regional level, are more promising. The Quetzaltenango office (though also affected by management problems and by recent charges of fraud) and the Salama office are doing creative work in radio programming. The Salama office broadcasts daily programs over Radio Mundial and a 3-hour program over the public address system at the Sunday market in Cubulco. A new station is being built in San Jeronimo, although further training and planning are needed to prepare for its opening, and a sophisticated study of potential listeners has been conducted in Baja Verapaz. Regional staff, especially those working directly with clients, are dedicated and committed. The central office is producing taped shows in several content areas. El Informador Rural (a newspaper) and other project-produced NFE materials have, aside from reproduction and distribution problems, been well-received. Studies show that the market for easy reading newspapers is large. The newspaper's national focus will allow it to reach places that radio programs do not, while expected input from regional offices (e.g., production of insert materials) should increase the paper's relevance to rural populations. An expected consultancy should help with the reproduction and distribution problems. Both regional offices have made important first steps in building relations between themselves and with other institutions and community leaders. Given the project's administrative problems and the distances between regional offices, these efforts should be encouraged.