Improving Development Program Performance: Guidelines for Managers

As developing countries and donor agencies have become increasingly concerned with the sustainability of development efforts, their attention has moved away from a strictly project focus toward long-term programmes that are integrated into national organizations and serve ongoing national objectives. It is recognized, as well, that the task of managing development programmes, as opposed to projects, differs in significant ways. Derick Brinkerhoff examines that task from the perspective of the developing country programme manager. Brinkerhoff bases his discussion on a simple model that focuses the managers's perspective in three directions - out, at beneficiary needs and the surrounding context, in, at the programme and the implementing organization(s), and ahead, at performance and sustainability. He provides a coherent discussion of development programme management, offers guidelines that encapsulate current thinking about the best ways to improve and sustain programme performance, and presents examples of the use of tools and concepts in specific cases.