POPULATION PLANNING PROJECTS USAID/INDONESIA, AUDIT REPORT NO. 2-497-81-11

program to promote family planning (FP) in Indonesia. Evaluation covers the period 8/31/77-9/30/80 and is based on document review, interviews with host country and Mission officials, and field visits. FP projects have helped reduce the birth rate by 28% in 1971-80, gained 1.3 million new adherents, and expanded coverage from Java/Bali/Madura to Outer Islands I and II in 1977 and 1979, respectively. The Management Information System (MIS), reporting data monthly to the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN)/Central in Jakarta, has improved performance on all levels. The Government of Indonesia"s (GOI) goal of a 50% decrease in the birth rate by 1990 seems well within reach. Program weaknesses include: inadequate data on continuing use of contraceptives after initial acceptance; use of inaccurate base figures for computing prevalence rates; regional imbalance in contraceptives inventories due to inadequate inter-level communication; and reimbursement to BKKBN for questionable expenditures. To address these inadequacies and ensure continued program success, it is recommended that USAID/Indonesia: (1) initiate a reporting system to provide data on continuing acceptor use of contraception; (2) verify current user figures recently submitted in certain provinces; (3) review BKKBN"s need for additional training in recordkeeping; (4) reconcile in-country contraceptive stocking levels and request project-wide inventory from BKKBN; (5) be alert to host country budgetary support and consider transfer of underutilized resources (e.g., autos); (6) assist BKKBN in correcting slow growth of current user rate in West Java; (7) request from GOI a detailed breakdown of Aceh Provincial BKKBN expenses before disbursing further funds to that province; and (8) improve documentation and monitoring of all BKKBN expenditures.