Review of recipient selection criteria, beneficiary profile, and nutritional impact of Catholic Relief Service's use of Title II commodities in Madagascar

Catholic Relief Service (CRS) is the implementing agency. Evaluation covers the period through 8/88. MCH is the largest CRS activity in Madagascar, providing monthly nutrition lessons, growth monitoring, and milk, rice, and vegetable oil rations to 50,000 mothers and 50,000 children at 68 sites. Center managers generally have been successful in targeting the neediest populations. CRS maintains nutrition statistics on MCH beneficiaries, and a recent survey will soon provide data on their socio-economic status. These data, however, do not provide information on the program's long-term impact, and many program administrators doubt the existence of a positive nutritional impact. The SF program provides a daily meal to 14,000 students (6-14 years) in 88 schools. Each school's program manager is responsible for targeting the neediest children. No statistical data on the nutritional impact of the SF program are available. The principal weakness of this program is its lack of a realistic plan to decrease its dependence on U.S. food aid. The OCF program feeds institutionalized orphans, lepers, and the handicapped in compliance with AID guidelines. However, the program also is involved with smaller MCH centers for undernourished children under three years old, which does not conform to A.I.D. guidelines. The following measures are recommended. (1) An in-depth study of the nutritional impact of the MCH program should be conducted. (2) CRS should develop a reporting method which shows the nutritional impact of MCH activities. (3) The CRS socio-economic beneficiary survey should be analyzed as soon as possible. (4) CRS should better integrate its MCH program with government efforts by adopting the standardized growth chart. (5) MCH centers should be used as hubs for small development projects. (6) Termination of SF support should be considered if a long-term plan to end dependency is not developed. (7) USAID should continue to support OCF institutions, but require CRS to reclassify feeding centers currently misplaced in this category. (Author abstract, modified)