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Consignee Control in Project Selection Results in Better
Resource Integration. The Consignee's ability to control the
selection process makes it possible to achieve a sizeable level
of integration of the FFW resource with other resources. Many
Consignees have In fact achieved such integration with cash
resources from CRS and other donors.
Weaknesses
The element of Consignee control over selection of
Projects is not without its weaknesses.
Consignees can Present Individual Projects to Appear as
Community Projects. For example, in certain housing projects
that the team saw, the consignees had presented them to CRS as
community projects, putting forth the logic that it was a
"community housing scheme". Similarly, there were cases of
"land-clearing" or even individual wells which were described
as "community land clearing" and "community irrigation wells."
Pressure from Peers. Since consignees and project holders
are often peers in the church, pressure is sometimes exerted by
peers for project approval. There are cases where consignees
also happen to be project holders, and thus are seen as "one
among equals" in project implementation.
CRS Policy Guidelines Circumvented. Where the consignees'
approach to the project selection is in conformity with CRS
selection policy, implementation of that policy is
accomplished; and where it is not, the policy is circumvented.
Given such a situation, the implementation of CRS policy
guidelines varies among consignees.
Consignee "Looking for Projects" for FFW. Some consignees
look for quick identification of projects to provide employment
to people during the lean season. In such cases, it is obvious
that proper planning is not done. This lack of planning
results in ad-hocism in project implementation. In other
words, resources that are available are not utilised optimally,
resulting in less than "the greatest number of the neediest
gettinc the largest amount. of benefit".
Non-Adherrnce to Time-Schedules Vitiates Project Implementation.
Whenl requests do not conform to CRS time schedules, commodities arrive
late (sometimes during the rainy season) creating storage problems,
and increasing the risk of spoilage. Moreover, when commodities
arrive late workers may not be available.
Pressure to Utilize Commodities Before End of Fiscal Year. FFW
mandays which are not utilized by September 30 are carried over to the
next fiscal year, and deducted from that year's request. This