OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT

PROJECT EMPHASIZES CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR STIMULATING ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS AND IN THE GENERATION OF EMPLOYMENT IN SUCH AREAS. PROJECT COMPONENTS RELATING TO RURAL, OFF-FARM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: 1. DEVELOPING AND TESTING GUIDELINES FOR COLLECTING AND ANALYZING EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION IN RURAL AREAS OF LDCS SUCH AS THE OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT IN BANGLADESH STUDY; SUCH GUIDELINES HELP LDC INSTITUTIONS AND AID MISSIONS PLAN LDC PROGRAMS. 2.PRODUCING SPECIAL STUDIES RELATING TO RURAL OFF-FARM ACTIVIVITIES. 3. ORGANIZING A GROUP OF CONSULTANTS AND A RESOURCE NETWORK TO ASSIST LDCS AND MISSIONS WITH PROJECTS ON OFF-FARMEMPLOYMENT. 4. DISSEMINATING KNOWLEDGE ON OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT AND SETTING UP AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE SUBJECT. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN 2 PARTICIPANT HOST COUNTRIES WITH MICHIGAN STATE (MSU) FINALIZING THE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. USAID/CARIBBEAN REGIONAL HAS ASKED THAT PROJECT BE DEVELOPED IN COOPERATION WITH THE CARIBBEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANK. REGIONAL WORKSHOP I WILL BE ORGANIZED AND HELD IN LATIN AMERICA (LA). A 2ND REGIONAL WORKSHOP IN AFRICA MAY INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES: UPPER VOLTA, KENYA, GHANA, TANZANIA. BENEFICIARIES WILL BE THE RURAL POOR IN LDCS AS WELL AS THE RESEARCHERS/EXPERTS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT. TA/RD WILL MANAGE THE PROJECT. RD STEERING COMMITTEE WILL GUIDE TA/RD. INTER-BUREAU COMMITTEE (IBC) FOR OFF-FARM EMPLOYMENT ASSISTED BY REGIONAL BUREAU REPRESENTATIVES WILL COORDINATE PROJECT. THIS AID PROJECT IS INCLUDED IN TC/RD FY 1977OYB, WITH HALF THE FUNDS OBLIGATED IN 77 AND ABOUT HALF IN FY 1979 FOR ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT THROUGH FY 1981. Amendment of 8/31/81 provides additional grant funding to enable Michigan State University to continue its in-depth applied research and consulting services on rural enterprise development in Thailand, Egypt, Honduras, and Jamaica for the remaining 14 months of the project. A limited amount of short-term consulting work in Botswana and other countries, and the preparation of papers summarizing the results of applied research and consulting activities will also be funded. Emphasis will be placed on analyses of data and on applying the results of these analyses to project design and implementation efforts.