Budget Justification
FY 2001

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ACTIVITY DATA SHEET PROGRAM: Central Programs TITLE AND NUMBER: Enhance communities' capabilities to conduct low-cost, grass-roots, sustainable development activities, 940-001 STATUS: Continuing PLANNED FY 2000 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,500,000 DA PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $1,500,000 DA INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1995; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2004 Summary: Since FY 1995, the Peace Corps Small Project Assistance (SPA) program has supported Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) in identifying, designing, and implementing small-scale, community-level, self-help, sustainable development activities in areas of priority to USAID. These activities increase participation at the local level and help lay the foundation for transition to democratic societies. As a direct result of USAID's intervention, working through the Peace Corps, an estimated 3,928 indigenous community groups have enhanced their capacity to address self-identified community needs by increasing economic and educational opportunities and improving health conditions for over 2.1 million community members. The SPA program facilitates local grassroots efforts by combining PCV knowledge of local conditions with USAID technical and financial resources. This activity has two primary components. First, SPA grants provide funding to small sustainable development activities developed by PCVs in conjunction with local community organizations. In FY 1998, each grant averaged about $2,000. Second, technical assistance supports the participation of host country nationals in training activities that enhance activity design and management. Key Results: In FY 1998 a total of 803 community-based activities were supported by SPA. These activities directly benefited over 561,475 individuals. SPA grants totaled $1,728,593 and local community contributions exceeded $1,273,998. SPA also supported 80 training events, benefiting 10,918 Host Country Nationals. Over 2,300 organizations were strengthened. Performance and Prospects: SPA targets have been exceeded each year since the inception of this objective. Each year, regional bureau demand for services and the use of the SPA mechanism has increased, both in Washington and field missions. It appears, however, that future regional bureau needs may not be met due, in part, to overall declining Agency budget levels and limited availability of economic growth (EG) funds. Possible Adjustments to Plan: Since the SPA objective was largely designed to respond to regional bureau and mission demand, reduced funding levels will mean that SPA programs will operate in fewer countries and at reduced levels of effort in selected counties. Other Donor Programs: Local community organizations make in-kind contributions of land, labor, and materials. The host country government sponsoring agency and the Peace Corps provide oversight and fiscal accountability for all USAID-supported activities. Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID makes funds available through a participating agency service agreement to the Peace Corps which, in turn, provides funds and technical assistance to local community organizations. Grant recipients provide 35% of total project costs. Selected Performance Measures: Baseline (1997) Actual (1998) Target (1999) Target (2000) Target (2001) Projects developed 781 803 850 950 950 Beneficiaries 458,347 561,475 640,000 700,000 700,000 Host country nationals trained 7,948 10,918 10,500 12,551 12,551 Local dollars leveraged 1,772,593 1,273,998 1,400,000 1,800,000 1,800,000 Organizations strengthened 2,259 2,281 300 2,300 2,300 U.S. Financing Table for 941-004 (Microsoft Excel Document - 28 kb)

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