PATHFINDER FUND EVALUATION PART I REPORT OF FINDINGS. (10/12/78-11/22/78)

PF WORLD- WIDE PROGRAMS DURING THE PERIOD 1976-78 HAVE BEEN ADMINISTERED EFFECTIVELY AND HAVE MET ASSIGNED OBJECTIVES IN SPITE OF THE HIGH TURNOVER OF TOP PERSONNEL DURING THE PERIOD 1973-78. AS A RESULT OF THE "NEW PATHS COMMITTEE REPORT" OF 1975, A POLICY DIVISION ND WOMEN'S PROGRAM DIVISION WERE ADDED TO THE PROGRAM OF FERTILITY SERVICES. THE DEFINITION OF ROLES BETWEEN THESE NEW DIVISIONS IS UNCLEAR, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE DIVISIONS IS GOOD. IN THE AREA OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, THE PF APPROACH OF ALLOWING RECIPIENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PROJECT DESIGN IS FEASIBLE. EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT PF REVIEW WITH AID ITS GOALS REGARDING WOMEN'S PROGRAMS, THAT IT UPDATE ITS KNOWLEDGE OF FAMILY PLANNING STRATEGIES, AND THAT IT GAIN THE CAPABILITY TO DEVELOP LONGER-TERM PROJECTS. PROJECT REVIEW ACTIVITIES ARE LARGELY QUANTITATIVE; QUALITATIVE, ON-SITE EVALUATORS ARE SPORADIC AND VARIABLE BOTH IN CONTENT AN D INTENSITY. THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT PF UPGRADE BOTH ITS BOSTON AND FIELD OFFICES TO DO QUALITATIVE EVALUATION AND THAT IT INSTITUTIONALIZE SUCH WORK, WHILE TAKING CARE TO AVOID INJECTING EXCESSIVE DATA COLLECTIONS AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES THAT MAY INTERFERE WITH SERVICE DELIVERY. THE SKILLS OF REGIONAL AND COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVES VARY WIDELY ALTHOUGH ALL HAVE SPECIAL SKILLS IN ONE OR ANOTHER AREA. MOST PF PROJECTS ARE INNOVATIVE AND WELL DELIVERED. REPORTING AND RECORDING OF PROJECT RESULTS ARE WELL DONE AND FOLLOW DESIGN AND INSTRUCTIONS. HOWEVER, PATHFINDER SHOULD AUTHORIZE SOME OF THEIR FIELD REPRESENTATIVES TO ARRANGE TELEX SERVICES FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH BOSTON.