In 1970, responding to increasing concern with rapid urbanization in developing countries, USAID launched a process leading to the first Agency-wide policy to address this issue. Bill Miner and Eric Chetwynd were directly involved in that process and have just completed a manuscript for publication, Pioneering Urban Development Policies and Programs in USAID (1970-1982). The book is in two parts; the first deals with the policy and program development process and the second with project development and field applications. Each chapter takes a hard look not only at the paths to success, but also the lessons learned along the way. The authors consider not only what happened, but also conjecture about what might have been done differently. In the final chapter, conclusions and lessons learned overall are presented with suggestions that could have useful implications for today’s urban development challenges.  

The book is a history of the Office of Urban Development, Bureau for Technical Assistance in USAID which existed from 1970-1982. Chetwynd’s talk will explain the book’s origins and cover some of the key points on the policy development process, including the impact of Congress. He will select several important technical innovations from the book and speak to their development, implementation and lessons learned along the way. He will highlight some conclusions drawn from the entire experience that may have relevance today.

This is the second in a series of Book Discussions with USAID Authors (drawn from the extensive bibliography recently assembled by the USAID Alumni Association - see http://www.usaidalumni.org/bibliography-of-usaid-authors).

Eric Chetwynd entered USAID in 1962 and served in Indonesia and Korea before earning a PhD in Economics from Duke. He served the rest of his career in Washington working on urban, rural and institutional development. He wound up his career as Director of the Office of Economic and Institutional Development in the Research and Development Bureau. He worked in over 65 countries during his USAID and later, consulting career, and currently resides in Pittsboro, North Carolina and Swan's Island, Maine.

Please RSVP to jpielemeie@aol.com