PL-480 TITLE II PROGRAM

Evaluation covers the period 5/78 to 11/79 and summarizes an attached final evaluation prepared by a contractor. The operations, effectiveness, and coverage of the final four years (1975-79) of this 25-year project are examined. Title II commodities were distributed to the government of Costa Rica"s (GOCR) primary and pre-school and maternal feeding programs. Major failings of the program were: (1) inadequate inspection by CARE of GOCR redistribution at the feeding center level; (2) lack of adaptation to Costa Rican needs as identified in CARE and A.I.D. evaluations -- foods supplied did not contribute to a balanced diet because of insufficient caloric content; and (3) failure to reach children in the 0-3 age group despite the finding that 80% of all deaths due to malnutrition occur in this group. The project did, however, succeed in lowering the number of children suffering from malnutrition from 53.6% to 43.5%; a 55% decrease in the disease"s 3rd degree stage and a 30% decrease in the 2nd degree stage also resulted from the project. Most importantly, the project led to the establishment of permanent, indigenous-supported child feeding programs. A.I.D. recommends the consideration of the evaluator"s findings and conclusions to maximize efficiency of future PL 480 projects in Costa Rica and other LDC"s.