ABSTRACT
Technical assistance (TA) is the provision, on a temporary basis, of qualified outside personnel to help with tasks for which people with necessary skills are not available in sufficient numbers. TA is only one of many aspects of development theory and practice subjected to criticism. In 1980, the World Hunger Commission wrote that there has been "a significant decline in the Agency for International Development's capacity to deliver high-quality TA to help recipient nations sustain self-reliant national agricultural systems." An emerging and potentially more promising alternative to the traditional TA contracting mechanisms is the management team strategy. The chapter identifies some root causes of problems with the use of TA in large-scale integrated development projects. Criticism of TA--in terms of its philosophical justification and practical application--is widespread within donor agencies and recipient govern ments.
