Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.3.95.970102073138.643C-100000@beta.tricity.wsu.edu> Date: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 07:45:57 -0800 From: Tom Hodges <mailto:thodges@TRICITY.WSU.EDU> Subject: Re: Effectiveness of local versus outside origination of projects To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
In talking about the effectiveness of development projects developed locally versus imposed from outside there may be some misunderstanding of what this means. Obviously if a project is conceived outside a country with little contribution from within country, that is an outside project. However a project planned within a country may also be completely "outside" as far as the people effected by it are concerned. So "within country" versus "outside the country" comparisons may also not tell us much.Locally planned projects may also have problems. Local men may plan something that will keep the local women barefoot, pregnant, and getting no compensation for their labor -- i.e. still effectively enslaved. Projects planned by village leaders may keep oppressed groups still oppressed. Such projects are likely to fail because the people who will have to do most of the work will see little benefit from the success of the project.
Perhaps an effective formula will involve a broad spectrum of local people consulting with some "outside" experts (who are there mostly to bring a broader perspective and avoid some local prejudices) as to what is needed and what can be done with local resources. Some of the new consultative processes like "future search" might also be helpful in getting people talking freely.
Tom Hodges