PL-480 TITLE II ACTIVITIES IN EL SALVADOR; A PROGRAM EVALUATION

CURRENT EFFORTS TOUCH NO MORE THAN A THIRD TO A FIFTH OF THE MOTHERS AND CHILDREN IN NEED OF DIETARY IMPROVEMENT. EVEN THESE FEEDING EFFORTS ARE NOT ALWAYS CONTINUOUS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS CONCERNED. ONLY LIMITED GAINS ARE BEING REALIZED IN TEACHING ABOUT FOODS AND NUTRITION. THE MALNUTRITION PROBLEM JUSTIFIES A PROGRAM LARGER THAN THE PRESENT ONE. HOWEVER, US DONATIONS HAVE BEEN CHECKED BY THE FAILURE OF THE GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE GROUPS IN EL SALVADOR TO PROVIDE THE FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDED TO DISTRIBUTE MORE COMMODITIES. THE PHYSICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PIPELINE NOW FUNCTIONS WELL. PROCEDURES FOR THE CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF PROGRESS IN OVERCOMING MALNUTRITION -- THE RELATING OF INPUTS TO OUTPUTS -- ARE LACKING AND ARE RECOMMENDED. TO DATE, US GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO ASSIST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN EL SALVADOR DO NOT SEEM TO HAVE STRESSED SUFFICIENTLY THE NEED FOR A STRONG COMMITMENT TO OVERCOMING MALNUTRITION. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMEND CHANGES IN PROGRAM EMPHASIS AND DESIGN, IMPROVED PROGRAM COORDINATION AND CONTROL, AND COMMODITY STORAGE.