Report on mid-term evaluation of the CLUSA/India program development and support grant (OPG no. 386-3024)

Special evaluation covers the period 4/83-9/84 and is based on document review and interviews with officials of CLUSA, the Indian National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), and USAID/I. CLUSA's activities are focused on monitoring the NDDB's Oilseed Growers' Cooperative Project (OGCP). Under the OGCP, the income of farmer members has gone up and efforts are being made to create a sense of cooperative member security and confidence through an integrated production, procurement, processing, and marketing system. A major activity has been revision of the multi-year operational plan to include recommendations of a prior evaluation and an audit, as well as initiatives based on project experience. CLUSA has efficiently arranged vegetable oil imports for the OGCP and monitored their handling after arrival. CLUSA submits quarterly, semiannual, and annual reports on the OGCP and conducts regular reviews, but until recently did not have sufficient staff to carry out regular site visits and district review meetings. Although CLUSA's reports are comprehensive and detailed, USAID/I has not been satisfied with them, due to differing CLUSA-USAID/I perspectives as to the nature of the project and the roles of the organizations involved. USAID/I has proposed a new, simpler reporting format, but has not specified what information it needs. CLUSA also participates in a number of other constructive activities in the cooperative sector, e.g., exploring new trade opportunities, strengthening the capacities of cooperative personnel, promoting a rural electric cooperative, recruiting consultants for planning a vegetable and fruit cooperative project, and sponsoring a P.L. 480 Title II donation of nonfat dry milk to the Indian Dairy Corporation. Utilization of grant funds has been slow, with only 13% of the total budget spent by 7/84, but given the recent recruitment of additional staff, it appears that expenditures will soon reach planned levels.