Since all Agency for International Development (AID) projects require an evaluation component, AID's emphasis on assistance to agriculture and rural development projects ensures a continuing need for skilled and expert personnel to evaluate those projects. Intended for potential AID project evaluators, this guide uses experience gained from field work in Senegal, Rwanda, Togo, Mali, and the Sudan to identify five phases in project evaluation: qualification for and involvement on an evaluation team; pre-departure orientation to the project; hit the field running; expectations and surprises in the field; and, the exit. Examples or explanations are given for each phase. Recommendations emphasize the importance of: establishing a good reputation; gaining familiarity with the project and its strategy; maintaining objectivity and being a good listener; and conducting final briefing and preparing reports. (JMM)