UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAND TENURE CENTER COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW (7/78)

THE EVAL INCLUDED ON-SITE VISITS (7/17-18/78) AT THE UNIV OF WISCONSIN & IN THE PHILIPPINES -- THE ONLY COUNTRY TO WHICH LTC HAS PROVIDED LONG-TERM ADVISORY ASSISTANCE. LTC HAS MAINTAINED FAIRLY STRONG TIES IN LATIN AMERICA,STEMMING FROM PREVIOUS CENTRALLY FUNDED ACTIVITIES (1962-69). HOWEVER,SINCE LTC MOVED FROM THE RESEARCH GRANT STAGE IN 1969 TO 211(D) GRANTS, VERY LITTLE RESEARCH FUNDING HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. (THE ASSUMPTION THAT USAID MISSIONS & OTHER DONORS WOULD PROVIDE RESEARCH FUNDING PROVED FALSE.) CONSEQUENTLY,LTC HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP STRONG RELATIONSHIPS OUTSIDE LATIN AMERICA. THE MOST SUCCESSFUL LTC RESEARCH & FIELD OPERATION WAS IN THE PHILIPPINES, RESEARCH BY LTC STAFF & GRADUATE STUDENTS HELPED TO IDENTIFY BOTTLENECKS & PROCEDURAL PROBLEMS IN TRANSFERRING TITLES FROM LANDLORDS TO TENANTS IN LAND REFORM OPERATIONS. LTC RESEARCH ALSO DOCUMENTED PROBLEMS IN LAND EVALUATION FOR COMPENSATION OF LANDOWNERS & PAYMENT BY LAND REFORM BENEFICIARIES. IN ADDITION,A FACULTY MEMBER CURRENTLY ON ASSIGNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES INITIATED A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF LAND REFORM ON THE LANDLESS. THE REVIEW TEAM NOTES THAT MUCH OF LTC'S RESEARCH WAS HISTORICAL RATHER THAN POLICY-ORIENTED. THE TEAM SUPPORTS THE UNIVERSITY'S ASSERTION THAT LTC'S PRINCIPAL IMPACT WILL COME THROUGH ITS TRAINING PROGRAM. A SAMPLE OF GRADUATE STUDENTS WERE FOUND TO BE OF HIGH QUALITY; AND THE CAREERS OF PAST STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IMPRESSIVE. SPECIAL SHORT-TERM TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE ARRANGED FOR OFFICIALS FROM ETHIOPIA,TURKEY,SYRIA,THE PHILIPPINES,PORTUGAL,AND SRI LANKA. THE REVIEW TEAM RECOMMENDS THAT AID INCREASE ITS KNOWLEDGE & USAGE OF LTC STAFF & FACILITIES. ALSO,IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FUTURE RESEARCH BE FOCUSED ON A FEW KEY LAND TENURE QUESTIONS. IN ADDITION,MERGING THE LTC LIBRARY WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LIBRARY SHOULD BE CONSIDERED ALONG WITH TYING IN WITH AGRICOLA,THE ON-LINE INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE LIBRARY. RESPONSES TO THE EVALUATION ARE INCLUDED AS AN ANNEX. THIS REVIEW IS ATTACHED TO PES FACESHEET.