Some observations on program activities of the Policy Development Division, Office of Population, AID

Special evaluation is based on the author's personal experience with the PDD program and on review of recent project reports. No time frame is stated. The overall impact of the PDD program is difficult to assess, but there is no doubt that several individual PDD projects have produced valuable and enduring outcomes; specific projects have, for example, increased knowledge of the determinants of fertility, raised awareness among LDC officials of the development impacts of population growth, improved the technical capabilities of LDC planning units, and strengthened working relationships between scientists and policymakers. However, PDD has never produced a unifying strategy to guide project selection, nor has it clearly defined expected outcomes by which to measure project achievements. Also, project locations have been influenced more by contractor contacts and/or the receptivity of Mission population officers than by need or feasibility considerations, while coordination among projects and implementing agencies has been inadequate. PDD is now attempting to integrate related activities and to expand program concerns (e.g., Columbia University's Development Law and Policy project), but a comprehensive, detailed strategy is still lacking. Moreover, current projects (with the possible exception of the Columbia University project) fail to address policy formulation and implementation as a holistic process, even though it is process issues which are least understood. PDD continues to concentrate exclusively on population growth and fertility policies and to neglect issues of population distribution and composition. It is recommended that PDD: (1) base projects on clear, detailed strategy statements and subject them to periodic review and revision; (2) integrate projects with Missions' Country Development Strategies; (3) give greater attention to the policy process, particularly to social and political determinants of policy actions; (4) stress coordination with LDC population planning units; (5) increase funding for population/demographic training of LDC personnel; and (6) develop specific measures for assessing the real effects of population assistance.