PATHFINDER FUND EVALUATION PART III LATIN AMERICA. (10/12/78-11/22/78)

THE RAPID INCREASE OF INTEREST IN AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILY PLANNING IN LATIN AMERICA HAS RESULTED IN THE NEED FOR MORE FREQUENT AND LONGER VISITS BY PF REPRESENTATIVES. THIS WILL BE FACILITATED BY THE PLANNED RECRUITMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES IN MEXICO, BRAZIL, AND PERU. THE LATIN AMERICA/NORTH OFFICE SEEMS TO BE WELL LOCATED FOR ITS RESPONSIBILITIES. THIS IS NOT TRUE OF THE LATIN AMERICA/SOUTH OFFICE BECAUSE THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN THE NORTH AND EAST. THIS IS NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE SINCE BOTH ARGENTINA AND CHILE ARE APPROACHING THE STATE OF FEELING COMPETENT TO HANDLE THEIR OWN POPULATION PROBLEMS. THE FOCUS IN LATIN AMERICA IS ON VOLUNTARY FAMILY PLANNING GROUPS, USING PROFESSORS OF OBSTETRICS, AND ON THE TRAINING OF PARA-MEDICAL WOMEN WORKERS AND PHYSICIANS IN LOW TECHNOLOGY STERILIZATION. PF MAY NEED MORE STAFF IN STERILIZATION, TRAINING, AND CONTRACEPTION IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY AS NEW PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES DEVELOP. SEVERAL PROJECTS COULD BENEFIT FROM MORE CAREFUL ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION; IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT PF REGIONAL OFFICES HAVE NECESSARY SKILLS TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE. IF NOT, THEY MUST UTILIZE AVAILABLE STAFF SKILLS IN MEETING THIS NEED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT: 1)PF SHOULD CONTINUE ITS TRADITIONAL ROLE OF SUPPORTING INNOVATION, SHORT-TERM AND HIGH RISK PROJECTS WHERE THESE ARE STILL NEEDED, BUT ALSO SHOULD SUPPORT LARGER AND LONGER TERM PROJECTS. PF SHOULD REVIEW ITS COMMUNITY-BASED DISTRIBUTION PROJECTS TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE ADMINISTRATION OR TO PROMOTE INNOVATION.