RURAL LINKAGES: A PRIORITY FOR INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES


The Merriam-Webster dictionary defined linkages as a connection or relationship between two or more things. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/linkage
' Rural' on its own can be defined as the local, primitive, remote, uncivilised etc' http://www.iied.org/rural-urban-linkages.  Sometimes the term rural is often seen from a derogatory point hence the constant  need for change, transformation or development as it relates to rural issues.
Rural linkages therefore can be seen as the connection of information, policies or agreements on issues that cuts across the rural people.  In other words, it is the ability to organize the local communities in their demo-graphs, profession, association and other activities in order to motivate and distribute packages that can enhance a better standard of living for them.
Most international agencies have always packaged projects/programmes for the rural people.  These projects usually receive the political blessings of the powers that be before been implemented thereby using same political persons to execute such projects.  The problem is: how can we make sure that these projects from international agencies actually get to these remote, primitive, local and rural areas/people.  The truth sometimes is that these politicians end up relocating these projects to the urban areas because they may not have what it takes to create a formidable rural linkages.http://www.ifpri.org/publication/rural-urban-linkages-growth-employment-and-poverty-reduction
Creating rural linkages starts from having a good understanding of the rural people/community with its inherent issues such as their myths, tradition, culture, belief system and total way of life.  You must understand the values that distinguishes them from other people/communities. It is on these premises that you can bring the real remote and native members of the rural areas as they are and connect them with the beautiful programmes that the international agencies have for them.
Until these people are connected with the developmental packages of the international agencies, no matter how good their projects and packages are such as food and nutrition, poverty alleviation, health and any other programme for the rural people, they can never make an impact to them so long as such projects/packages never got to their real targeted persons/places.

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