DISTRICT PLANNING AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT (PHASE I)

BY USING THE PROCESS APPROACH TO PROJECT DEVELOPMENT, SPECIFIC PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL EVOLVE OUT OF LOCAL PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AND THROUGH EXPERIMENTATION WITH TRIAL ACTIVITIES. THE GOG HAS DECENTRALIZED ITS DECISION-MAKING WITH THE DISTRICT COUNCIL RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND LOCAL COUNCILS AND VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES RESPONSIBLE FOR IDENTIFYING AND CARRYING OUT SELF-HELP ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE DISTRICT"S DEVELOPMENT PLAN. SINCE GOG"S DECENTRALIZATION STRATEGY IS NEW AND UNTESTED, THIS PROJECT IS ONLY A "PRE-IMPLEMENTATION PHASES" FOR RESEARCH AND EXPERIMENTATIONWHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A MUCH LARGER "IMPLEMENTATION PHASE" PROJECT. THE PRESENT PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY, DEVELOP, AND TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS AND REPLICABILITY OF: 1) METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIALS FOR AND THE CRITICAL OBSTACLES TO DISTRICT DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE; 2) METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES OF THE DISTRICT COUNCIL AND ITS SUPPORTING INSTITUTIONS; 3) AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR INCREASING THE PRODUCTION AND INCOMES OF SMALL FARMERS WITHIN THE DISTRICT; 4) ALTERNATIVE INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES THAT INCREASE RURAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES; 5) METHODS FOR CREATING LOCAL SELF-HELP CAPABILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMIC AND EVENTUAL SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE; 6) APPROACHES TO NON-FORMAL EDUCATION AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT; AND 7) A LOW-COST, EASILY MANAGED INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT WILL ALLOW THE DISTRICT COUNCIL TO MONITOR THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES. USAID WILL PROVIDE A DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ADVISOR, SHORT-TERM CONSULTANTS, RESEARCH STUDIES (BY A GHANAIAN INSTITUTION), PLUS FUNDS FOR EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT DESIGN ACTIVITIES. New Project Paper of 7/5/80 authorizes a 5-year Phase II of the project, which will strengthen local capacities to develop the infrastructure needed for food crop production and consumption. Activities are to: work with the District Council and village development committees in infrastructure planning, management, and execution; work with the District Council and the Ghana Highway Authority to upgrade some 70 miles of the District"s feeder road system to an all-weather farm-to-market road system; build water impoundment structures and water supply systems (including 17 village ponds); and implement other small development activities. (PD-AAQ-986)