PVO co-financing project -- rural assistance project

The evaluation covered the period FY86-1/90. Both projects are implemented through grants to PVO"s. The rural assistance project has provided 27 grants totalling $7.9 million -- $5.6 million to increase agricultural productivity or rural incomes and $2.3 million for emergency or survival activities. It is difficult to assess the impact of these activities on target populations, due to a lack of independent monitoring. A.I.D. staff are not allowed to enter Afghanistan, and grantee reports merely describe activities and account for expenditures without addressing possible implementation problems. However, on the basis of available information, it appears that the activities have achieved most of their stated aims. The participating PVO"s have proved valuable implementing agents, due to their contacts inside Afghanistan, low operating costs, and relative effectiveness in implementing simple relief activities. However, in cases where activities have become more complex, the PVO"s have been hampered by their limited management capacity and lack of technical and development expertise. The health project has trained over 500 health care providers and is supporting nearly 100 clinics in Afghanistan. The health impact of the project cannot be measured, due to a lack of epidemiological data. However, the quality of health training has improved steadily. It is recommended that the project focus on improving monitoring of health service quality, retraining workers, and standardizing health services and worker qualifications and salaries. Two major lessons were learned. (1) PVO"s are effective in relatively simple activities requiring close contacts with the target population, but cannot be expected to support the U.S. government"s political objectives. (2) It is essential for management purposes that PVO health, rural rehabilitation, and agricultural development programs be restructured as specific subprojects.