Policy reform project

The evaluation covered the period 1983-7/91. UDAPE is recognized as an effective organization, both within Bolivia and internationally. In terms of the quality and quantity of studies conducted, and their impact on Bolivia"s macroeconomic environment, UDAPE has surpassed Project Paper expectations and targets. However, the theoretical character of many of the studies has limited their audience and impact. There are concerns about UDAPE as an organization, in particular, its change in role following a 4/86 project amendment which emphasized its function as an in-house policy advisor and staff support for the MOP. While increasing UDAPE"s policy impact, this shift limited its range of clients and base of support, and undermined its role as an agenda setter. While UDAPE still focuses primarily on issues pertaining to economic stabilization, there is considerable demand for a greater emphasis on economic reactivation and growth. Such a change in research agenda, while desirable, will increase the Unit"s vulnerability to political change. Some steps which UDAPE could take to address potential problems would be to reinvigorate its Board of Directors, which has been inactive, and to present the results of its studies in the form of options rather than recommendations. Broadening its range of clients and constituency of support within government would also consolidate UDAPE"s position. Given the valuable work UDAPE does, conventional notions of sustainability may not be appropriate. The costs of supporting the Unit are relatively modest and a positive role for external financial and technical assistance exists for the foreseeable future. The evaluation recommends that USAID continue to fund UDAPE policy reform efforts and that UDAPE review salary levels and increase them as needed to retain highly qualified personnel, explore nonfinancial incentives for UDAPE staff, and recruit new professional staff to study economic reactivation and growth issues. (NOTE: Some information in the above abstract is taken from XD-ABE-612-A)