PILOT NETWORKING IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The contractor will review relevant reports and other information; organize and selectively use a small advisory group of established urban development experts; prepare and conduct a survey of institutions and networks involved in urban development; and prepare a final report based on the above. This final report will first contain a brief discussion of existing networks in urban development. Next, an analysis of U.S. and LDC institutions having a potential for networking activities in urban development will be presented. These institutions will be analyzed on the basis of their strengths, weaknesses, and capacity for growth; the extent to which they employ a multidisciplinary approach; have networking activities or potential; provide outreach services; and their perceptions of the critical problems most appropriate for networking and of the most effective and minimum inputs for networking. This will be followed by analyses of critical problems suitable for networking and of candidate U.S. and LDC needs for pilot networking. Finally, the contractor will make recommendations concerning A.I.D. options for supporting such networking and develop criteria for future monitoring and evaluation. The results will provide a basis for consideration by A.I.D. and other developed country donors of the extent to which they wish to support networking in urban development as a means of strengthening and providing greater access to resources for decisionmakers in dealing with the opportunities and problems of urban growth and development.