NUTRITION/HEALTH EARLY WARNING SYSTEM (FOOD AND NUTRITION SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM (3/12-3/16/79 AND 3/31-4/5/79)

EVAL COVERS THE PERIOD FROM 12/77 - 4/79. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND A ONE-YR EXTENSION OF THE PROJ DUE TO SIGNIFICANT IMPLEMENTATION DELAYS. A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN THE LACK OF SENIOR-LEVEL MANPOWER, IN PARTICULAR A DATA PROCESSING ADVISOR & A TECHNICAL REPORTING OFFICER. THE PRESENT PROGRAMMER HAS HIS DEGREE IN COMPUTER SCIENCES & RECEIVED SHORT-TERM TRNG IN THE SOVIET UNION IN FORTRAN PROGRAMMING. HOWEVER, A SECOND PROGRAMMER WITH THE ABILITY TO FOLLOW & ADAPT CANNED PROGS WILL BE REQUIRED. THE COMPUTER IS HOUSED IN A COTTON WAREHOUSE WITH NO TEMPERATURE, HUMIDITY, OR DUST CONTROL. THAT THE COMPUTER OPERATES AT ALL IS MORE SURPRISING THEN THE LARGE AMOUNT OF DOWN-TIME. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT A DATA PROCESSING EXPERT BE PROVIDED FOR ONE TO TWO-MOS IDY TO REVIEW THIS SITUATION. OVERALL, DATA COLLECTION PRESENTED ENORMOUS PROBLEMS DUE TO SECURITY PROBLEMS, SLOW COMMUNICATIONS IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE FACT THAT NO ADEQUATE DATA BASE EXISTS FOR POPULATION OR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT SHORT-TERM TRNG COURSES BE GIVEN TO SELECTED HOST-COUNTRY STAFF INCLUDING A THREE-MOS STATISTICS COURSE GIVEN BY THE BUREAU OF THE CENSUS & SYSTEMS ANALYSIS COURSES FOR THE HOST-COUNTRY PROGRAMMER. SIGNIFICANT BUDGETING PROBLEMS HAVE ALSO OCCURRED WITH OVERLAPPING AGENCY BUDGETS & OVERPROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION,THE SURVEILLANCE PROG IS ADMINISTRATIVELY HOUSED IN THE RELIEF & REHABILITATION COMMISSION (RRC),WHICH IS ONLY A TEMPORARY AGENCY. DISCUSSIONS SHOULD BE HELD WITH OFFICIALS IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE & SETTLEMENT TO SEE IF THE PROG COULD BE PERMANENTLY PLACED WITHIN THIS MINISTRY. THE EVALUATORS NOTE THAT THE OTHER PARTICIPATING DONOR AGENCIES (UNICEF,SIDA,THE UNITED KINGDOM) HAVE NOT BEEN AS ACTIVE IN THE PROJ AS MIGHT BE DESIRABLE. USAID"S $1,000,000 CONTRIBUTION WAS PROGRAMMED FOR GENERAL SECRETARIAT SUPPORT,COMPUTER RENTAL,AND SALARY PER DIEM FOR FIELD REPORTING AGENTS.