ABSTRACT
Quantitative "proxies" for success in project design, and the movement through the review and approval process, have been created, and some quantitative analysis has been performed to complement the qualitative work. This chapter focuses on Development Alternatives, Inc.-assisted design efforts, what happened to them during the Agency for International Development (AID) review/approval process and the implications for implementation. A long period between Project Paper submission and approval might be the result of a badly designed project that is legitimately returned to the field for major revisions. A critical question in assessing the effectiveness of the AID review/approval process is whether it discriminates between well and poorly designed projects. The host country commitment to the New Directions concept was of major significance to the completion of an appropriate project design. The complex requirements and the lack of guidelines in the field of development administration should be one of the major concerns of project design teams.
