Project assistance completion report : Peru -- disaster relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction project (527-0277)

The project-funded rehabilitation and reconstruction subprojects (SP's) to repair damaged infrastructure in the north of Peru and restore agriculture in the south have been implemented successfully. Almost all objectives were accomplished, although there were innumerable problems encountered along the way. While the project was slow in getting started, after 38 months over $60 million have been disbursed through hundreds of separate activities. This substantive PACR includes detailed discussions of (1) SP accomplishments; (2) institutional strengthening activities; (3) implementation issues (SP selection, cost control, timing, etc.); (4) related activities (e.g., reconstruction bonds, P.L. 480 food distribution, local currency funds, PVO assistance, other donor contributions, etc.); and (5) issues that are generic to reconstruction programs - host government coordination and financial controls, the need for special A.I.D. procedures, host country contracting, the utility of interim evaluations and audits, USAID Mission support, and data management. A number of recommendations applicable to future reconstruction programs are provided. (Author abstract, modified)