Reviews current status of social analysis and project design in AID, identifies needed changes to improve performance and impact of social analysis, and presents draft guidelines. Discussed in this examination of current AID social analysis are the main problems of quality, timing and application and the constraints to improving social analysis (staffing, motivation, skill and knowledge, political, institutional). The author suggests that a new role for social analysis might be as an integrated process and enumerates institutional measures to aid the implementation of more explicit and detailed guidelines for social analysis. The proposed guidelines cover the following topics: (1)Country Development Strategy Statement (CDSS), (2)Sector Analysis or Assessment, (3)Project Identification Document, and (4)Project Paper. In general, the guidelines provide instructions for performing social analysis as an integrated activity at various stages of AID program and project work. Two annexes discuss specific types of projects — small farmer credit and primary education — in which social analysis can make a significant contribution and an additional annex lists illustrations of social analysis and design in AID project work.
