Community-level statistics. Statistics Division, Economic and Social Development Department
Anonymous
FAO Economic and Social Development Series 33: 88
1983
Document Number: 458894
The reorientation of development strategy from 'Top down' to 'Bottom up' planning involves the identification of the main constraint of the people, careful examination of the locally available resources in relation to people's felt needs and more precise design of policies and action programmes to improve their conditions. This requires a comprehensive data base at village or local level, much more detailed and timely than the national statistical system has at present. Building up such a comprehensive data base is a long drawn process but is important if micro planning is to have real impact on the poor. Relevant available material, and the experiences of various experts were used to formulate guidelines for FAO member countries, specially those planning or engaged in the Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ARRD). The programme emphasizes the new decentralization of decision making processes and the planning machinery within the framework of national policy to enable people's participation in planning, formulation and implementation of development programmes and evaluation of their results. The five chapters are: (1) Significance and characteristics of the programme; (2) Some technical considerations; (3) Organization; (4) Tabulation of data; (5) Training.