PROTEIN FOODS AND FOOD FORTIFICATION

THIS EVAL INCLUDED TESTS OF FINANCIAL RECORDS & PROJ-RELATED DOCUMENTS,AND SITE-VISITS TO PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS. AUDITORS CONCLUDE THAT THE PROJ HAS PRODUCED FEW TANGIBLE RESULTS,INCREASING NEITHER THE AVAILABILITY,NOR THE CONSUMPTION OF PROTEIN. HOWEVER,WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATL INSTITUTE FOR NUTRITION AND FEEDING,THE PROJ STAFF MAY YET SUCCEED IN FOCUSING THE GOB"S ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEM OF MALNUTRITION. A PROCESS TO EXTRACT FISH PROTEIN CONCENTRATE FROM UNUSABLE SARDINE PARTS & PIECES WAS PROVED VIABLE BY THE MARINE RESEARCH INSITITUTE. HOWEVER,EXPANDED FACILITIES WILL BE RQUIRED BEFORE ANY IMPACT CAN BE MADE ON THE CONSUMER. EFFORTS TO PRODUCE SOLEIN,A SOYA-BASED MILK SUBSTITUTE, DID NOT Y IELD RESLTS BECAUSE THE HIGH COST OF SOYA BEANS PUT THE PRODUCT BEYOND THE REACH OF CONSUMERS. ALSO,GOB FEEDING PROGS FAILED TO PLACE ORDERS FOR IT. IN ADDITION, $41,500 WORTH OF LYSINE & BLENDING MACHINES PROVIDED TO THE NATL SCHOOL LUNCH PROG(CNAE) WERE NOT USED. THE AUDITORS RECOMMEND THAT USAID CLOSELY MONITOR CNAE"S MOST RECENT PLAN (10/74) TO UTILIZE THE LYSINE & MACHINES. IF THE NEW PALN IS NOT FULLY IMPLEMENTED,USAID SHOULD MAKE A REFUND CLAIM FOR UNUSED COMMODITIES. AUDITORS FURTHER RECOMMEND THAT,WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PROVIDING A CONSULTANT TO THE NATL INSTITUTE FOR NUTRITION & FEEDING(INAN),USAID SHOULD ISSUE TO FURTHER PIO"S FOR THE PROJ. EFFORTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO SMOOTHING TRANSITION FROM RELIANCE ON USAID TO AN ANTICIPATED WORLD BANK LOAN. SHORT-TERM CONSULTANTS WERE PROVIDED TO INAN & TO THE VARIOUS SUB-PROJS. GENERALLY,THE CONSULTANTS EARNED FAVORABLE COMMENTS FROM THEIR GOB COUNTERPARTS. FOURTEEN PARTICIPANTS WERE SELECCTEFOR LONG & SHORT-TERM TRNG IN THE US. FOUR HAVE NOT YET LEFT; SIX ARE STILL IN THE US;AND FOUR RETURNED & ARE ENGAGED IN PROJ-RELATED ACTIVITIES. LOCAL WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES WERE CONDUCTED INCLUDING A MONTH-LONG MIT WORKSHOP ON MULTI-SECTORAL PLNNG. SINCE 1971,OVER $90,000 WAS PROVIDED FOR EQUIPMET,PARTS,AND LYSINE.