Programa de Assessoria Técnica, Social e Ambiental (ATES): uma avaliação de processo no Rio Grande do Norte (2004-2010)

Abstract

The thesis entitled Social and Environmental Technical Assistance Program (ATES): a process evaluation in RN (2004-2010) aimed to evaluate the implementation strategies of ATES Program (2004-2010). For achieving the exposed goal, the basis was the following research problem: there are differences in the strategies used by governmental and non-governmental organizations in the process of implementation of the program of rural settlements of agrarian reform? The hypothesis that supported the thesis was: the implementation model of ATES Program, conducted in rural settlements of RN by government institutions, is top-down; the model of non-governmental institutions is bottom-up, considering the strategies used by agents in implementation. The research problem had as genesis the possible differences in the implementation of ATES in the settlements: Moacir Lucena, in Apodi, Monte Alegre I, in Upanema, and Cabelo de Negro, in Mossoró. Thus, to investigate what was proposed initially, it was used as methodological resource the exploratory bibliographic research, the field research in the settlements mentioned, setting a multiple case study (since three settlements were surveyed). Were added to these features the tools for data collection: interviews with governmental and non-governmental extension agents, and mixed questionnaires with the beneficiaries of the program in the period mentioned. It was resorted concomitantly to two INCRA officials, the organ responsible for all organization of the program in Rio Grande do Norte. A priori it was found that the implementation process is characterized by discontinuity, fragmentation and by punctual actions, interests and ideologies, resulting in very different realities in the settlements studied. Are added to this aspect the strategies used, either top-down, by the government agents, and bottom-up, by extension agents of non-governmental organizations. Thus, the modus operandi, according to the NEPP of UNICAMP (1999) consists in choices, interests, preferences, options and ideologies, driving for a different implementation of a same program, in a same period (temporal). This resulted in a gap between what the program evaluated advocated and reality and everyday life of the subjects studied.