Economic Opportunity Mailing List Archive

["Dick Tinsley" <<address removed>>]

Here is something to think about.

As I review the overall agriculture development process I see a hierarchy of 
people involved each with a different overall outlook.  I consider this to be 
highly analysis to Maslow's hierarchy of human motivation, although I have been 
advised by the psychologist that I am stretching the concept a little.

These four groups work together in a cooperative manner but are often talking 
past each other, which causes some frustration for those working with them.

At the top of the hierarchy are the donors.  They are the ones that develop the 
projects and look at things from a strategic perspective noted best by USAID's 
4 strategic objectives into which all activities fall.

Below this is the implementers.  They are the advisors, which is my normal 
role, NGOs and other that facilitate projects.  They are normally fairly secure 
with their life, share the strategic concern for the strategic objectives of 
the donors and attempt to get them implemented.

Next are the host institutions.  These are the professional officers and 
technicians in the host country that are really the clients of development 
efforts.  They often have limited salaries which the projects tend to 
supplements.  Their perspective is often one of opportunities either to make 
additional income on the side such as cultivating project land privately, 
seeking training opportunities, etc. Basically, striving for economic parity 
with the implementers and developed countries which they have visited.  
Unfortunately, as been mentioned by others a lot of development investment get 
consumed in this level.

At the bottom of hierarchy are the smallholder producers.  They are the 
intended beneficiaries of the development effort.  However, their outlook is 
very basic outlook primarily just trying to get sufficient food for their 
families a few basic comforts such a nice oil lamp, transistor radio, maybe an 
occasional warm beer at the end of the day.


This lowest level of the hierarchy and their outlook is a long way from the 
strategic objectives of the donors designing programs for their benefits.

I am going to stop here and continue in a couple separate messages on the 
impact level.

Dick Tinsley