PATHFINDER FUND EVALUATION PART II REGIONAL REPORT FOR ASIA. (10/12/78-11/22/78)

PF SUPPORTED PROJECTS IN BANGLADESH ARE THOUGHT OUT AND EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERED, AND ENHANCE POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING EFFORTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT AID SHOULD SUPPORT ASIAN PROJECTS FOR TWO TO FOUR MORE YEARS, AND PF AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH SHOULD DEVELOP ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT. PF SHOULD ALSO TRY TO WORK WITH PVO'S ACTIVE IN POPULATION AND FAMILY PLANNING, ESPECIALLY IN NON-RURAL COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE DACCA, AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP PROJECTS WITH RELEVANT ELEMENTS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, E.G., RAILWAY WORKERS. ALSO, WOMEN SHOULD BE GIVEN ROLES IN PVO FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAMS. THE FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM IN INDONESIA IS RIGOROUS, AND PF'S EMPHASIS ON SUPPORT FOR SPECIALIZED SERVICE PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE TRAINING OF PHYSICIANS IN STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES, IS THE CORRECT ONE. THE STERILIZATION CENTERS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN TRAINING AND ARE BELLWETHERS FOR OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE STERILIZATION SERVICE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT PF EFFORTS TO WORK WITH RELIGIOUS GROUPS SUCH AS MOHAMMADIYAH AND THAT THE ROLE PLAYED BY RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN THE VILLAGES SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. IT IS HOPED THAT PF WILL BE ABLE TO ASISST THE ZPG GROOP TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM SOURCE OF IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT. THIS MAY REQUIRE THAT PF PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SELECTED ZPG PROJECTS OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS. PF PROJECTS IN THAILAND ARE MOVING THAT COUNTRY CLOSER TO HAVING A BODY OF NON-PROFESSIONALS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FAMILY PLANNING SERVICE DELIVERY. PF HAS LEFT A LEGACY OF CONTINUING INTEREST IN BROADENING THE TECHNICAL SKILLS OF PARAMEDICAL PERSONNEL. GIVEN THE MATURITY OF THE THAILAND FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM, THE STRONG ROYAL THAI GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL AND POLICY SUPPORT, AND BROAD SUPPORT FROM BILATERAL, INTERNATIONAL, AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, PF DOES NOT HAVE A LARGE FUTURE ROLE IN THAILAND.