POPULATION/FAMILY PLANNING PROJECT : TUNISIA; AID FIELD EVALUATION

THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE BROAD AREAS OF PROPERTY AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT, ACCOUNTING, FINANCIAL CONTROL AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN ESTABLISHED PLANNING COMMITTEE. THE TEAM FOUND THAT PROJECT OUTPUT ACCOMPLISHMENTS NAMED ABOVE WERE OF GOOD TO EXCELLENT PROGRAM QUALITY. A KEY DEFICIENCY, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN THE LACK OF READILY AVAILABLE NON-CLINICAL CONTRACEPTIVE COMMODITIES AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. OUTPUTS IN OTHER PROGRAM AREAS, SOME OF WHICH TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED FOR BEING "ON SCHEDULE", HAVE IN FACT NOT BEEN DEVELOPED TO THE DEGREE OF EFFICIENCY THE TEAM FEELS REQUISITE FOR THE PROGRAM TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS. THESE INCLUDE THE MANPOWER PROGRAM, AN INTEGRATED AND EFFECTIVE HEALTH EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM, AN EFFICIENT MANAGMENT COMMUNICATIONS AND RECORDS OPERATION, AN INTEGRATED AND EFFECTIVE MEDICAL SERVICES PROGRAM, AN ADEQUATE ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT FOR NURSING AND MIDWIFERY SERVICES, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED FOR THE NATIONAL FAMILY PLANNING OFFICE, AND STATISTICAL SERVICES. THE EVALUATORS RECOMMEND THAT THE PROGRAM TERMINATION DATE BE SHIFTED TO FY 78. TERMINAL FUNDING SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON THREE STRONG SUPPORT YEARS FOR THE COMMUNITY-BASED DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM, WITH MAJOR EMPHASIS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLIES. THE EVALUATORS ALSO MAKE SEVERAL OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS.