REPORT ON EVALUATION OF AGRARIAN REFORM PROJECT TO USAID/MANILA

ALTHOUGH PROJECT PERFORMANCE WITH RESPECT TO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS HAS BEEN REASONABLY GOOD, THE PROJECT IMPACT HAS NOT BEEN AS ANTICIPATED. THE EVALUATORS BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE OF UNREALISTIC ASSUMPTIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH HAVE BEEN ESSENTIALLY BEYOND THE PROJECT'S CONTROL. THE EVALUATORS CONCLUDE THAT A BASIC PROJECT REDESIGN IS CALLED FOR AND THEY SUGGEST SIX ALTERNATIVES. THE PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND USAID CONSIDER UNDERTAKING A COMBINATION OF THREE OF THE ALTERNATIVES. THE EMPHASIS OF THIS RECOMMENDTION IS ON IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF EXECUTION OF THE LAND TRANSFER. THE NEW PROJECT DESIGN SHOULD FOCUS ON A GOAL THAT IS SPECIFIC REGARDING THE TRANSFORMATION OF TENANTS INTO AMORTIZING OWNERS AND FACILITATE THEIR ABILITY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVELIHOOD IN THIS STATUS. THE PROJECT PURPOSE SHOULD BE CHANGED TO CONCENTRATE ON LAND TRANSFER OPERATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL WITH FULLER COLLABORATION OF THE FARMER SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS AND SYSTEMS ALREADY DEVELOPED. MEASURES OF GOAL ACHIEVEMENT AND PROJECT OUTPUT INDICATORS SHOULD RELFLECT THE PROPOSED NEW DIRECTIONS OF THE PROJECT.