Population Policy Analysis

Evaluation is based on visits to Battelle Offices in Washington, D.C.; Seattle, Washington; and Lima, Peru. To date, Battelle's Population and Policy Development Program has been involved in 14 countries. Battelle has assigned technical advisors to participating LDC's and subcontracted with indigenous researchers and institutions to carry out population policy development activities. In all, Battelle has considered 47 subcontracts, with 15 having completed the review process. Although advising numerous changes, the evaluation team recommends that the project be extended to 6/82. The contract should be amended to exclude the reference to an 18-month implementation cycle (three LDC's per cycle). References to research projects on elite opinions should also be deleted. The diversity of views within A.I.D. on population policy strategy was reflected in its management of the Battelle contract. A.I.D. should clarify what role it expects Battelle and this project to play in the development of LDC population policies, as well as take immediate steps to increase its monitoring of the project. The team recommends that Battelle concentrate its efforts in nine countries, to be selected in accordance with explicit criteria and in coordination with A.I.D. In addition, Battelle should prepare detailed policy development strategy reports for each country. The evaluation team's site visit to Peru revealed that Battelle needs a stronger "presence" in Peru. Battelle should assign someone who can work on a regular basis with A.I.D., AMIDEP (The Interdisciplinary Association for Population Research and Teaching), and other public and private sector officials. The 20-30% field time guideline used by A.I.D. regional bureaus might be appropriate in this instance. The evaluation team rates the Battelle Fellows Program as low-priority, and recommends either that it be more directly linked to on-going country efforts or that it be discontinued.