RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SWAZILAND; AN EVALUATION REPORT

FOLLOW-UP ON CURRENT PROJECT STAUS VIS-A-VIS THE LOGICAL FRAMEWORK PROVED TO BE MOST DIFFICULT; HOWEVER, MUCH PROGRESS IS BEING MADE AND SOME RELATIOSHIPS CAN BE PINPOINTED. THE USAID PROJECT IS DEFINITELY ACHIEVING ITS GOAL OF SUPPORTING THE GOS'S RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. BASED ON THE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE, THE EVALUATORS BELIEVE THAT PRODUCTIVITY WILL BE INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FUTURE, BUT THERE IS LITTLE TO SEE NOW. THE EVALUATORS MADE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDING: (1)FROM THIS POINT FORWARD, USAID PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD GIVE VERY HIGH PRIORITY TO INSTITUTION BUILDING; (2)USAID SHOULD ENCOURAGE THE GOS TO REVIEW CAREFULLY (A)THE MECHANISM BY WHICH THE AGRI/RURAL SECTOR STRATEGY IS DEVELOPED, AND (B)THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES' CAPABILITY TO PLAN, ANALYZE AND PREPARE ECONOMICALLY SOUND PROJECTS; (3)ACCELERATING THE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM SHOULD CONSTITUTE THE HARD CORE OF USAID ACTIVITIES IN SWAZILAND; AND (4)THE CURRENT PROJECT SHOULD BE REVISED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WITH PREFERENCE GIVEN TO REPLACING IT WITH TWO PROJECTS.