Operations research in family planning : an evaluation of contract AID/DSPE-C-0055, the Johns Hopkins University

Special evaluation covers the period 9/79-12/81 and is based on document review and interviews with project and AID/W personnel. Project performance has been uneven. The quantity and quality of work during the first year was disappointing, but both have since improved. Production of the major project output, a comprehensive review of A.I.D. FP operations research projects, was delayed 3 months. According to the contractor, Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the delay was due to AID/W's failure to identify the review's intended audience; evaluators judge, however, the JHU should have settled this question before initiating such a major expenditure of project funds. JHU made little attempt to obtain data from sources other than AID/W. The final version of the comprehensive review was limited to review of community-based distribution systems; according to JHU - but not AID/W - this was done at AID/W's behest. The value of the review is limited by its failure to make specific action-oriented recommendations. Final assessment of the document, however, must await feedback from professional readers. Subsequent planned outputs were also delayed, but a strategy paper and two of five planned issue papers have now been submitted and a workshop on FP operations cost-effectiveness has been held, with another workshop planned for 1/82. Dissemination of project products has been substantial and is expected to increase greatly during the final project year. Technical assistance provided by JHU to ongoing and planned operations research projects in several LDC's has been generally satisfactory although the pattern of conflicting JHU-A.I.D. expectations is also visible in this area. AID/JHU working relationships have improved and successful completion of the project is likely. It is recommended that JHU provide detailed fiscal accounting, ensure prompt completion of planned outputs, and vigorously attempt to locate FP operations research projects that are worthy of A.I.D. support. AID/W should consider a no-cost extension to ensure completion of planned outputs and should give thought to coordinating this contract with the health operations research contract held by the Center for Human Services.