Project assistance completion report for the agriculture and rural development technical services project (LAC TECH I, 598-0654)

The project greatly exceeded the targets set for its principal area of focus, the provision of TA to LAC missions. Specifically, the project provided 1,935 person-days of TDY (285% of target), conducted 20 seminars and workshops (125% of target), and produced 50 technical papers and analyses (238% of target). The quality and rapid delivery of this TA has been a key factor in the project's success. Project advisors helped the LAC Bureau produce an Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Strategy and synthesized lessons learned into technical bulletins and papers which are distributed throughout the missions. Lessons learned are as follows. (1) Faced with a significant cut in funding, the follow-on project (LAC TECH II) may not be able to afford the same level of TA that was provided by LAC TECH I. However, the follow-on should maintain a focus on mission needs to the extent possible. (2) There has been a good audience for the technical bulletins and papers; the emphasis on the production of these will continue under LAC TECH II. The follow-on will also continue to emphasize the use of advisory services for sector assessments and strategic planning rather than for project design and evaluation.