August 19, 2004 - Washington, DC To discuss new approaches to planning and managing social development projects, 160 representatives from the public and private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Uruguay participated in a GDLN Global Dialogue on August 19, 2004. The dialogue was organized by the GDLN Center in Colombia at the University of Los Andes. Colombian experts presented a new methodology to help development practitioners formulate accurate and sustainable policies and projects in response to complex social development problems.

Arguing that many social development policies are counterproductive in the long term, the panelists used simple examples taken from everyday situations to illustrate how the obvious solutions to a problem are not necessarily appropriate or sustainable. Participants discussed this concept and also reflected on the need to develop systematic and focused methods and tools. By accurately describing problems and analyzing them from different perspectives, participants are now able to apply this new methodology to project planning and management for creative, consistent, and sustainable solutions.

For additional information about this activity, or to learn of similar programs for Latin America and the Caribbean region, contact Jorge Gamarra (jgamarranavarro@worldbank.org).