Mexico Organisational Development Projects: Rural Development Projects

The Rural Development Project was a national project in Mexico with the aim to increase the prosperity of around a third of the country's total population, including approximately 323 regional studies throughout the states and territories of Mexico.

In 1973, Eric Miller, on behalf of the TIHR, was invited to advise on the Mexico Rural Development Programme. His work began with an initial visit to Mexico and a two week study to comment on the design, methodology and operation of the programme. Miller also made subsequent and more intensive visits to Mexico to observe and make reccommendations on studies, including a visit to Guanajuato to form general impressions of how the Programme was working and to flag up problem areas for further attention, and a visit to the Mixteca Region to observe the outcomes of the pilot project.

The Rural Development Project consisted of actions and developments to improve quality of life and prosperity in rural regions, for example the provision of water resources and roads. The project also focused on the extension and diversification of occupations and sources of income. Miller's advice primarily focused on providing effective consultancy to communities in examining their resources and formulating their own programmes for development based on their unique characteristics and culture.