Somalia refugee settlement

The evaluation covered the period FY87-11/88. The project is far behind schedule. Whereas 5 RIP"s were to be implemented by mid-1988, only 1 RIP has recently been approved while a second is in the final stages of the approval process. Aside from the 2 PVO"s that proposed these RIP"s, other eligible PVO"s show little interest in applying for future grants. This is due to: (1) the small size of the RIP grants (about $150,000 per grant), (2) the one-year timeframe for implementation, (3) the high cost of proposal preparation, and (4) the perception that refugee land tenure is uncertain. Consequently, less than 15% of the $4 million obligated for the project has been committed. Recommendations are to: streamline the grant application process and provide PVO"s with clear guidance for proposals; redesign the project to allow larger multi-year RIP"s and to reflect the recent decision of UN High Commission on Refugees to terminate food assistance to refugee camps by mid-1990; and urge the Ministry of Agriculture to clarify procedures for refugee land registration, An action decision extends the PACD to 12/93. (Author abstract, modified)