Outside Resources;
Balancing Internal and External Sources
by
Phil Bartle, PhD

Training Handout

How much help can come from outside the community
before that community becomes dependent on outside help,
and therefore loses its self reliance?

 As a mobilizer, you will find that it is difficult to find a
 balance between resources that originate outside the community, and
 those from within. You and the community executive will be under
 considerable pressure to bring outside resources into the
 community. Donor agencies want to help, while community members want
 to receive. You know, however, that bringing in outside resources
 contributes to the dependency syndrome and reduces the chances of
 sustainability and self reliance.

 Yet there are ways to maximise the strengthening ability of using
 outside resources as illustrated by the story of Mohammed and the
 rope. (see Telling Stories). If you can convince an outside donor to
 provide some costs of skill training, management training, and
 mobilization, and assist the community in obtaining most of its own
 construction resources, you can contribute to self reliance and
 sustainability. If the Prophet, peace be upon him, had merely given
 food to the beggar, he would have been training the beggar to be a
 beggar; by giving him some advice and capital instead, he assisted
 the beggar to become self reliant.

 This handbook does help you in obtaining outside resources, as in
 Proposals, which guides you in preparing effective
 proposals. Like any powerful tool (eg fire), these skills can be
 misused, and may contribute to in the long run. Use them well, and
 for the correct ends.

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Updated: 2003 March 23