Facilitating sustainable rural development — an experience from Zambia

Abstract

Abstract This paper describes the experience of an ODA funded Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) in Northern Zambia over the period 1980–86. In contrast to existing Zambian IRDPs it chose to follow a ‘learning process’ approach in working as a facilitator with three District Councils. The start of the programme coincided with the passing of decentralisation legislation in 1980. Thus the programme was drawn very much into the practicalities of helping the newly constituted Councils work out effective administrative structures and systems for rural development including planning, co‐ordination, project implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The emphasis of the programme was on institution building through ‘learning by doing’ utilising donor funds for the construction of essential infrastructure. The programme subsequently evolved to cover the operational programmes of District Departments and the development of systems for the rehabilitation and maintenance of infrastructure. The experiences are viewed from four perspectives – the District Authorities, the Donor, the Central Zambian Government and the IRDP team, all of which had to accept change as the process put pressures on them. Considerable success has been achieved at District level; the donors have demonstrated a new flexibility and confidence; the IRDP team have learnt a great deal about the facilitation process; Central Government, despite its early commitment is now faced with the implications of it's policy which mean giving real power to the Districts.

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