The macroeconomic and sectoral policies put in place by a large number of countries during the last decade have frequently been complemented by programmes and projects to protect the poor and vulnerable groups during the adjustment process. Concerns with efficiency and equity of expenditures on basic social services, with appropriate identification of the poor and with effective targeting and monitoring of interventions indicate how critical is the link between the central government policy with its broader economic environment and the subnational level where most effective planning and implementation can be undertaken.
Decentralization can favour the establishment of the necessary mutually supportive relationships between the central government and the subnational level, the latter encompassing public sector institutions as well as non-governmental organisations and other individuals or groups in the area. The development of a local capacity for identifying, preparing and monitoring socio-economic interventions is the necessary corollary to successful policy implementation.
This publication has been prepared as part of an ongoing training programme of the Policy Analysis Division, aimed at strenthening the local planning capacity in rural areas. It intends to provide guidelines on the social aspects of agricultural and general rural development planning and to demonstrate to those involved in such planning the importance of social issues, the relationship between social and economic development planning and the nature and scope of social analysis methods. These methods, reviewed and illustrated through the use of a hypothetical district case study, refer to information gathering, to formulation of nutrition, education and water supply policies, to meeting special needs of disadvantaged groups of the population as well as to fostering public involvement in planning.
The Guidelines are intended primarily for use by those responsible for designing training programmes for staff engaged in planning at district level. However, the material is also relevant for public servants, local government officials and staff of non-government organizations.
Comments and suggestions on their use will be most welcome.
T. Kelley White
Director
Policy Analysis Division
