PL-480 Title II program in Tunisia

480, Title II commodities in Tunisia. Audit report covers the period 10/78-2/81 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with Government of Tunisia (GOT), USAID/T, CARE, and CRS officials. Impact on target groups of the $7.56 million worth of food provided through primary school and pre-school programs has been minimal due to the lack of clear nutritional objectives. Many children, especially in rural areas, do not attend school and so do not receive food. For those who do attend, food has been provided on only 100 of 198 class days, precluding consistent nutritional improvement. Preschool feeding has focused on the 3-6 rather than the more nutritionally vulnerable 0-3 age group. (Given Tunisia"s continuing high infant mortality rate, it is noted, the importance of nutrition can hardly be overstated.) Recipient eligibility in both feeding programs has been based on criteria other than nutritional need, resulting in many ineligible recipients, and recipient"s nutritional progress has not been reviewed. Integration of health education in the pre-school program has been slowed by delays in procuring supplies and in executing an implementation agreement with the GOT and by lack of transportation for social welfare agents. A plan to attract mothers to feeding centers for nutritional and health instruction by offering additional food for pre-schoolers did not work; children have instead been brought to the centers by older siblings. Despite a 1-year project extension, CRS health education activities are unlikely to be completed by the end of FY81. In other areas, community contributions to the program have been minimal; minor problems exist in regard to inventory, consumption, and school attendance records, school inspection, and food preparation; pre-school feeding facilities need much improvement; and CRS needs to schedule a major internal review. Finally, Tunisia, as a middle-income country, no longer qualifies for Title II assistance. A draft plan to transfer program responsibility to the GOT should be implemented according to an A.I.D.-determined time-frame. Six other recommendations are made.