ALTERNATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES

to promote effective local organization by the LDC rural poor. Evaluation covers the period 6/30/76-9/30/79. No methodology is given. Research of relevant literature and field investigations in seven countries by the contractor, Development Associates, Incorporated (DAI) has resulted in a two-volume report entitled "Local Organizations and Rural Development: A Comparative Perspective." According to the report: (1) external donors have no choice but to work with progressive farmers and the politically powerful in local areas; (2) the correct participation of small farmers in local organizations may lead to greater benefits for the rural poor than in the past; (3) local resource commitment is a vital indicator of commitment to projects and increases their financial viablity; (4) participation is useful for developing new ideas in a local environment; and (5) the rural poor should form local organizations and insist on a voice in organizational decisions to avoid exploitation. The report examined three approaches to organizational development -- the process/broker, the broker, and the blueprint methods -- in terms of their effects on indicators of organizational success, such as income change, services, equity, leadership, and influence. The broker approach was found to be less effective in promoting overall organizational success than the other two, but no approach was found to have any advantage in promoting equity. DAI"s use of "the rapid reconnasisance" method is judged inappropriate for studies to be considered as survey-based, social science research. Moreover, the data collection instrument itself was very long and complex. Report findings, therefore, should not be treated as policy guidelines but only as possibly useful impressions. It is recommended that A.I.D. accept the report but limit its distribution; that the evaluation be included as a forward in all distributed copies; and that A.I.D. not contract for scientific investigations which use the data collection methodology employed in this study.