REPORT OF THE EVALUATION OF FAMILY PLANNING INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (GRANT AID/CSD 3289) - VOLUME ONE : FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Evaluation covers the period 6/30/71-2/28/75 and is based on interviews with Family Planning International Assistance (FPIA) personnel and visits to 39 field projects in 14 countries. Most of the field projects were well conceived and adequately administered. Contraceptives, supplies, and equipment are being provided by FPIA, but mostly outside of the subproject. The Colorado training program and the Philippines sterilization center are good examples of the specialized training programs being funded by FPIA. However, aside from supporting a training project in Tanzania and the presence of midwives in many of the subprojects, training has not been emphasized as planned. Training should be expanded to include other auxiliary and paraprofessional personnel. information, education, and communication (IEC) objectives are being achieved as evidenced by the knowledge and attitude studies carried out in some of the projects, audience response to mass communications programs, and acceptor response to joint IEC/FP services. The innovative nature of many of the subprojects (such as FP services for the Hill Tribes of Northern Thailand, the introduction of a FP program by a Catholic service organization in Indonisia, and the use of women"s association members as FP workers in Nepal) is a major strength. Principal project weaknesses are the lack of a comprehensive management system, the lack of systematic feedback to the field, and the failure to integrate evaluation activities into the overall project. Forty recommendations are outlined, including: (1) that FPIA assist its clients to find alternative sources of financing; (2) that the evaluation of the current project information system be continued, emphasizing project management/monitoring needs; (3) that an integrated system of program planning, administration, and evaluation be developed; (4) that a limited clearinghouse be established to disseminate ideas, approaches, and materials developed under the subprojects; and (5) that the administrative burden on subproject managers be reduced.