Comments on: The Menendez Plan: Social Development as a Path to Hemispheric Success http://www.coha.org/the-menendez-plan-social-development-as-a-path-to-hemispheric-success/ COHA is an NGO specialized in monitoring Latin American and Canadian Relations for more than 30 years... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:22:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: rlambie http://www.coha.org/the-menendez-plan-social-development-as-a-path-to-hemispheric-success/comment-page-1/#comment-27042 rlambie Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:54:02 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2008/07/the-menendez-plan-social-development-as-a-path-to-hemispheric-success/#comment-27042 While I do think that Latin America (as well as the many other developing nations of the world) need a comprehensive and fair plan, the sense I get from Senator Menendez's plan is that it will operate in isolation. In my opinion, this is a common mistake of the 'developed' world when considering development strategies 'for' not 'with' developing nations. What will this plan do differently that has not already been tried? Not one of these goals are original in nature. Yet this one touts to be the one that will work. On what basis? Willingness alone is not enough for a strategy to be better. There are many factors that must always be considered when working in developing countries, especially marginalized persons within them. How easy/difficult is it to get consensus on HOW a strategy will be implemented? What are the levels of capacity of the NGOs on the ground, and does this plan take into consideration the fact that the best NGOs are the ones with established relationships, but not necessarily the management capability to execute efficently? The common response to this is to 'direct' the process, through foreign consultants and intermediaries, but this prevents the opportunities of growth and development with people who are on the ground. What must be considered in all initiatives is a learning phase for applying new strategies and programmes on the ground. Secondly, the article speaks on the Menendez plan seeking to consult with USAID and the IADB on the finer details. What about including the ACTUAL recipients in the planning process, instead of the common problem of trying to implement a program that people have difficulty adapting to, due to the lack of consultation from the recipients themselves. What must be incorporated in this (and every other plan from here on) is the need to include the recipients of any plan during the 'development' stage, not just in the execution stage. Yes, it means the process takes longer, but as far as I'm concerned, it is the only way to ensure success..... While I do think that Latin America (as well as the many other developing nations of the world) need a comprehensive and fair plan, the sense I get from Senator Menendez’s plan is that it will operate in isolation. In my opinion, this is a common mistake of the ‘developed’ world when considering development strategies ‘for’ not ‘with’ developing nations.

What will this plan do differently that has not already been tried? Not one of these goals are original in nature. Yet this one touts to be the one that will work. On what basis? Willingness alone is not enough for a strategy to be better.

There are many factors that must always be considered when working in developing countries, especially marginalized persons within them. How easy/difficult is it to get consensus on HOW a strategy will be implemented? What are the levels of capacity of the NGOs on the ground, and does this plan take into consideration the fact that the best NGOs are the ones with established relationships, but not necessarily the management capability to execute efficently?

The common response to this is to ‘direct’ the process, through foreign consultants and intermediaries, but this prevents the opportunities of growth and development with people who are on the ground. What must be considered in all initiatives is a learning phase for applying new strategies and programmes on the ground.

Secondly, the article speaks on the Menendez plan seeking to consult with USAID and the IADB on the finer details. What about including the ACTUAL recipients in the planning process, instead of the common problem of trying to implement a program that people have difficulty adapting to, due to the lack of consultation from the recipients themselves.

What must be incorporated in this (and every other plan from here on) is the need to include the recipients of any plan during the ‘development’ stage, not just in the execution stage. Yes, it means the process takes longer, but as far as I’m concerned, it is the only way to ensure success…..

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