VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT

Evaluation covers the period 8/78-4/80 and is based on document review, site visits, and interviews with the implementing agency, the National Community Development Service (NCDS) and villagers. To date, NCDS has completed only 90 (36%) of 269 planned subprojects (SP"s), against a target of 66%, in the 35 specially targeted provinces. NCDS management changes and administrative delays and the lack of Government of Bolivia (GOB) counterpart funding contributed to the delay. Due to community demands, NCDS has stressed social (mainly school construction) over economic infrastructure such as roads and irrigation systems; only five SP"s are in the latter category. If this trend continues, the project will not meet its economic goals and may even have adverse effects, due to the 40% minimum community contribution requirement. Further, although NCDS has submitted 550 SP plans (well beyond its abilities), there are very few follow-up SP"s. It is thus doubtful whether self-reliant, permanent community organizations are being formed as planned. (The latter indicates an inadequate training strategy in the project design.) Due to the lack of GOB funding, the planned expansion of NCDS"s promotional staff has not occurred, nor have promoters" wages kept pace with inflation. Inadequate transportation has hindered supervision of promotional activities. The project cannot achieve its aims unless its administration is improved at once. It is thus recommended that NCDS delay new SP"s until it establishes an autonomous, adequately staffed, USAID-approved management unit and completes current construction efforts. It is also recommended that NCDS improve control over SP selection; develop a training system for promotional and management personnel and for SP communities; develop a more equitable formula for community contributions; conduct surveys of NDC personnel, promoters, equipment needs, and of new SP interests (especially economic infrastructure) in communities with completed SP"s; and submit a revised implementation plan.