Special development activities (SDA)

Interim evaluation covered a 5-year period ending 12/88. During the past 5 years, the Mission has approved an average of 18 SP"s a year with an average grant of about $5,000. On the basis of questionnaires and interviews, a review of 15 representative SP"s indicated that 67% had either successfully achieved an income-generating status or could reasonably be expected to do so within a suitable time frame. The remaining 33% were either already abandoned as failures or diagnosed as having no reasonable prognosis for success. This success rate is considered very satisfactory in admittedly high-risk, experimental projects of this kind. SP success seems to be highly correlated to the type of SP and and the participation of a secondary organization capable of providing TA and guidance. The three most successful types of SP"s involved economic infrastructure, product diversification, or processing/marketing. Social benefits are very extensive and homogenous from site to site and appear to derive largely from the community"s experience with the SP rather than the actual outcome of the SP. In regard to economic benefits, three villages had attained impressive gains. Economic impact assessment of the SP"s is premature at this stage, however. Criteria and procedures for selecting and implementing SP"s are generally in order, though project staff are overburdened and could not adequately manage and expanded staff. Recommendations are to give priority to economic infrastructure SP"s, develop a select group of supporting secondary organizations, and provide additional staff support. Also, consistent with the project"s new developmental thrust, the Project Committee should be reorganized without the traditional participation of the Embassy and the U.S. Information Service.