Women in development

Final PES, covering the period 9/81-5/84, is based on 1983 and 1984 evaluations by independent Guatemalan organizations. While the Foundation has had problems balancing procedural and development emphases, it has fully achieved the project"s credit component and has used funds generated from the start-up capital and from other donors to create a new credit window for low-income women. As of 3/31/84, 33 small women-owned enterprises (13 urban, 20 rural) had been established, a few in areas not previously considered appropriate for women"s work. Direct beneficiaries were the 100 owners and workers in the enterprises, 7 of which created 33 new (mostly part-time) jobs. On the negative side, the goal of increasing the general awareness of the status of Guatemalan women as managers and workers was not realized. The planned conferences on women in development were held, but with minimal impact: participants were not opinion leaders, no printed follow-up material was assembled, and the slow start in lending funds limited the number of exemplary projects. The RC was initially unaware of the requirement that A.I.D. approve major decisions, disagreed with A.I.D. approvals, and 6 months were lost while procedures were clarified. Further, some RC members were reluctant to more actively involve low-income women, given the latter"s need for additional training in basic business principles. Also, even though the RC provided the needed TA to loan recipients - at a level greater than that envisioned - it failed to provide dynamic follow-up assistance. Project-trained Foundation loan personnel did step in with significant TA support; trained Ladies Rotary Committee members, on the other hand, did not greatly assist new enterprises. The project showed that although low-income persons may be capable of establishing new activities, they require additional training in order to make their endeavor a success. An action decision requires the inclusion of such training in the design of small enterprise projects. A second action decision is to continue policy dialogue in order to increase the status of women in new project design and in special studies.