TIVAOUANE WOMEN"S PROJECT - WID

THIS MID-PROJECT EVALUATION COVERS THE PERIOD FROM 5/78 TO 1/80, AND UTILIZES INFORMATION FROM PROJECT DOCUMENTS, INTERVIEWS WITH FIELD PERSONNEL AND PROJECT PARTICIPANTS, AND SITE VISITS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES ARE PROGRESSING WELL, ALTHOUGH SOME DELAYS HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO LOW RAINFALL, LATE ARRIVAL OF INPUTS, AND AN ORIGINAL PROJECT SCHEDULE THAT DID NOT ALLOW FOR INITIAL START-UP TIME. ENTHUSIASM OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS IS HIGH, AS IS THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF PROJECT. ORGANIZATION AMONG PARTICIPANTS IS VERY GOOD, INDICATING STRONG WORKING RELATIONS BETWEEN PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND THE WOMEN"S GROUPS. THE PROJECT PLAN DID NOT ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE INVOLVEMENT OF WOMEN IN THE INITIAL DESIGN PHASES. ALL INPUTS WERE DECIDED ON AND BROUGHT INTO FIELD SITES WITHOUT PARTICIPANT CONSULTATION, CAUSING INAPPROPRIATE CHOICES TO BE MADE (SUCH AS EUCALYPTUS TREES FOR THE WOODLOTS COMPONENT, A SPECIES WITH VERY HIGH WATER REQUIREMENTS), AND HINDERING LOCAL INNOVATION. PROJECT EXPERIENCE INDICATES THE FOLLOWING: (1)THOUGH SMALL IN DOLLARS, THIS PROJECT HAS MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LARGER INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS; (2)PARTICIPATION BY WOMEN"S GROUPS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED THROUGHOUT ENTIRE PROJECT LIFE. IN-KIND OR MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF PARTICIPANTS IN ORDER TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT AMONG PARTICIPANTS. WHILE SHORT-RUN COSTS MIGHT INCREASE, LONG-RUN BENEFITS WOULD BE SUBSTANTIAL, AS WOMEN GAIN EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING FUNDS AND WORKING TOGETHER; (3)CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT PROJECT ACTIVITIES DO NOT SUPPLANT ONE TYPE OF WORK FOR ANOTHER, OR IF THEY DO, THAT WOMEN PERCEIVE THE RESULT AS A NET GAIN. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE: (1)EXTEND PROJECT COMPLETION DATE TO 3/81; (2)REQUEST A SPECIAL WAIVER FOR PURCHASE OF MEDICINES FOR PHARMACIES FROM LOW-COST LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR; (3)REVIEW DESIGN AND ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF SHEEPRAISING AND WOODLOTS COMPONENTS.