Decentralizing management of rural development

Placing rural development in hands of local people
Promoting disadvantaged groups voice in rural development
Involving rural people in rural development

Context

This strategy features in the framework of Agenda 21 as formulated at UNCED (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), now coordinated by the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and implemented through national and local authorities. Agenda 21 recommends developing guidelines for decentralization policies for rural development through reorganization and strengthening of rural institutions.

Claim

People know best how development can be locally implemented. The transfer of responsibility and decision to local people will encourage leadership in equal and responsible involvement of men and women in the process of planning for their village.

Committed grassroots planning gets most support, encourages a sense of responsibility and achieves the most lasting development. Make use of the natural common sense of the people in planning for the future and taking decisions. It is important to establish a set of priorities providing a logical sequence of emphasis, such as first crops, then education, then health and housing. Whilst individuals can do a tremendous lot for themselves, voluntary and self-sacrificing leaders are highly valuable in the process.