SAWS/OFASA EXPANDED FOOD FOR WORK PROGRAM IN THE PUEBLOS JOVENES

EVALUATION WAS CONDUCTED BY A TEAM USING QUESTIONNAIRES AND ON-SITE VISITS. THE PROJECT BEGAN SLOWLY DUE TO LATE ARRIVAL OF FOOD COMMODITIES, INEXPERIENCE ON THE PART OF OBRA FILATROPICA Y ASISTENCIA SOCIAL ADVENTISTA DEL PERU (OFASA), THE SAWS PERUVIAN COUNTERPART, AND THE NEED FOR LEAD-IN TIME REQUIRED FOR PROMOTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROJECTS BY THE BENEFICIARIES. HOWEVER, BY THE END OF AN EIGHT MONTH PERIOD, OFASA HAD SURPASSED THE STATED GOAL OF REACHING 100,000 BENEFICIARIES MONTHLY. OFASA HAS MAINTAINED THAT LEVEL UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE DIVERSION OF COMMODITIES TO OTHER COUNTRIES HAD FORCED A TEMPORARY REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES. THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PROVIDED: 1)THE NATIONAL OFFICE FOR FOOD SUPPORT,ONAA,SHOULD COORDINATE JOINT MEETINGS BETWEEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE FOOD SUPPORT TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND ACTIONS IN THE SAME AREA; 2)REQUEST FROM OFASA A BETTER PROJECTS AND BENEFICIARIES SELECTION PROCEDURE, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION ACTIVITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT IMPACT AND LOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND NUTRITIONAL LEVEL OF BENEFICIARIES; 3)OFASA SHOULD COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENT SET FORTH IN THE AID AGREEMENT SO AS TO CARRY OUT THE LATRINES CONSTRUCTION PROJECT; 4)A CLAUSE SHOULD BE INSERTED IN THE NEXT AGREEMENT STIPULATING ANTICIPATED TRAINING FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS AND/OR PROMOTERS IN NUTRITION EDUCATION AND FOOD PREPARATION; 5)THE NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY OFASA SHOULD BE STUDIED CAREFULLY TO ESTABLISH METHODS AND PROCEDURES ADAPTED TO THE SOCIAL REALITY OF THE BENEFICIARIES, WITH EMPHASIS ON PRACTICAL INFORMATION; 6)OFASA SHOULD STUDY NEW TRAINING METHODS FOR THOSE BENEFICIARIES UNDER ITS FEEDING PROGRAM IN ORDER TO BE QUALIFIED FOR BETTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES; 7)ONAA SHOULD APPLY NEW SYSTEMS TO EXPEDITE THE DELIVERY OF PRODUCTS TO OFASA