Strengthening women"s roles in development

Evaluation covers the period 5/79-5/81 and consists of a PES facesheet accompanied by two special evaluations (PD-AAI-994 and PD-AAI-995) and the Project Manager"s criticism of the latter (XD-AAJ-994-A). Action decisions include extending the Project Assistance Completion Date to 9/82 and integrating the project with the Ministry of Rural Development. Other action decisions concern: (1) loan activity - identify and promote more profitable income-generating activities and examine the economic feasibility of labor-saving technologies; (2) training - establish a coordinated program of village-level credit training for women including additional training of supervisory personnel, especially of female extension agents; and (3) financial management - standardize accounting and reporting procedures for Offices of Rural Development, identify new strategies for lowering cost of placement of small loans, and establish a loan tracking system.