ABSTRACT
Several contributors have noted that private voluntary organizations (PVOs), in pursuing development initiatives abroad, should be in a position to focus their efforts on meeting the needs of the very poor. Foreign-based PVOs have a special role to play in nurturing the growth of counterpart organizations and affiliates in Third World countries. The long-range effectiveness of PVOs can be gauged only by such efforts. Indeed, PVOs should be interested in evaluation of this sort in order to identify and, where possible, to replicate the most successful development programs. Many US-based PVOs are finding it useful to engage the partnership of indigenous PVOs in this way. This is a development which holds out some promise and is one that should be encouraged. There are two levels at which University/PVO ties can be developed; the institutional and the personal. A comparative understanding of PVOs with varied origins would be a welcome addition to the literature.
