Avaliação do processo de implementação do Programa Luz para Todos no Estado do Ceará

Abstract

The universalization of public electrical power service has becoming one of the most important challenges for nations attempting to reach the economic and social development. In recent years, many emerging countries are developing programs to provide its societies with broad access and use of these services. In the years 2002 and 2003, Brazil established important legal milestones in this direction, guiding the setting of objectives and timeframes for the attendance of its entire population. The creation of the rural electrification program called "Luz para Todos" was one of those milestones, and its national coverage transformed it in one of the biggest social programs already developed in that area. This research has evaluated the process of implementing the program in the state of Ceará, Brazil, from 2004 to 2008, gathering information about its origin, setting goals, regulations, planned operating structure, criteria for selection and execution of works, among others. The methodology used in the evaluation of the process focused on the criterion of effectiveness of actions and program planning, having been used largely from documental research related to the themes of the universalization of the electrical power, development, Luz para Todos program, and evaluation of public policies. In the evaluation process were established three dimensions of evaluation, corresponding to aspects of organization and operation of the program to reach goals and quality procedures. To each dimension were associated indicators in the form of relative frequency and concepts, whose purpose was to provide a quantitative and qualitative approach of the implementation. The main objective contained in the methodology here applied was to determine the degree of achievement of goals, and performance in the employment of the tools to the execution of the program. The paper concludes that the program "Luz para Todos" in Ceará, despite the great effort expended, achieved only part of their objectives, represented by the achievement of quantitative targets of households served, but was not successful in carrying out specific actions aimed at making the use of electricity a channel of social and economic development of communities, and contribute to poverty reduction and increase in family income. The plan provided for integrating development activities that would fulfill this purpose, was never developed satisfactorily in the state of Ceará. This paper also concludes by suggesting new issues that may accomplish such research, while suggesting to the public policymakers actions designed to maximize the use of the infrastructure of electricity now available, taking up integrated actions under previous planning.