Reforming donor driven projects and state bureaucracies through PRA

Outlines the process of transforming RIPS, a Finnish-funded bi-regional integrated rural development programme in Tanzania. An eighteen month process was planned to transform the programme's previous top-down blueprint approach to one based on mutual learning and action research together with local people. Participation and sustainability were the key requirements. The various stages of the process and the problems encountered are described. It is concluded that "the process demands attitude change from many, creativity from project staff, patience and commitment from local people, and some rethinking of what projects are for from central authorities and donor agencies".