A new approach to organizing and planning

Abstract

The interest of this viewpoint lies not only in its content which describes a far‐reaching participatory approach to development, but also in the fact that it represents the first contribution to this Journal reflecting the very considerable body of French development experience on Africa usually ignored in Southern Africa because of language constraints.

The BRL‐GERSAR (National Development Company for the lower Rhóne and Languedoc region, France) and the ODII (Organizing for Development — An International Institute) collaborate to introduce more effective approaches to the organization and management of development BRL‐GERSAR, based in Nimes, France, specializes in the design and management of irrigation and agricultural schemes. ODII, based in Washington, DC. USA, specializes in helping governments and other institutions develop more holistic approaches to organization that include, for example, a consideration of their rapidly changing environments and the individual humans on which all organizations depend.

Notes

Francois Le Landais, PhD in Economics, is a project director for BRL (Compagnie Nationale D'Aménagement de la Region du Bas‐Rhóne et du Languedoc). William E Smith, PhD in Social Systems Sciences, is a co‐director of Organizing for Development (ODII), an international institute. Mr Le Landais and Mr Smith have collaborated since 1986 in an effort to bring more effective modes of organizing to the complex field of agriculture, rural development and irrigation.

Adapted from Afrique agriculture, February 1990.