PRELIMINARY CRITERIA FOR USE OF THE EXPERIMENTAL PROJECTS PROGRAM FOR CENTRAL TUNISIA

The team was contracted by A.I.D. to develop criteria for use of funds designated for the Experimental Projects Program (EPP) in Tunisia. The EPP was established to fund innovative and experimental rural development projects on a small scale for possible future replication. The team"s purpose was to make observations, recommend possible criteria, and identify potential project areas for subsequent discussion and/or action by A.I.D. and Government of Tunisia (GOT). The UWM team used on-site visits to ongoing and completed projects, and discussion with members of GOT"s Office of Development (ODTC) to formulate the following criteria: 1. "Experimental" projects must introduce new products or services to the region. 2. Project beneficiaries must be low-income groups in dispersed settlements. 3. Multi-sectoral projects should be emphasized. 4. Projects should make maximum use of local resources. 5. Special emphasis should be placed on choosing projects which generate employment. 6. Community participation should be stressed. 7. Projects should be small scale, with a high potential for replication. 8. ODTC should formulate a project implementation and evaluation schedule and carry out periodic reviews during the project"s duration. The study concludes with a list of potential projects and an explanation of how each would meet the criteria if adopted.