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5. Build Values Before Buildings
For the last 24 years, I have closely followed a certain project in Africa. Those who ran it would tell you it was not one of their best efforts. When ministry leaders were about to close the project, the local pastor asked me to help him raise $3,000 to fund the primary school, now that the organization was pulling out.

I asked him, "What percentage of the school budget are the local people going to provide?"

"None," he said, "Pastoralists—they don't believe in education."

I replied, "Then close the school and first work on building the values that stress the need for education. You can re-open the school when people see the need and are willing to get behind it."

He was speechless. That school had been propped up artificially. Development is more about building values first, then methods, projects, and buildings. Beliefs and values guide behavior. We will do what we value.

6. Practice Cost-Sharing
Projects will succeed when those controlling them have incentives for projects to succeed. Cost-sharing does not always mean money. There are other forms of sacrifice like labor, time, and materials.

In the early 1990s, an American friend of mine went to Africa and was motivated to encourage his wealthy business buddies to give funds for three windmills in Kenya. It was a donor-driven project. When the windmills broke, local people did not repair them, and my friend began to rethink his strategy. Later, when village women wanted $5,000 for a mill to grind their corn, he said, "When you show me a bank statement for $2,500 that you have raised, I will find the rest." Today that grain mill is still working.

7. Use the Eyes and Ears of Locals
Development work demands insightful people with the ability to understand other cultures. In Rwanda, where I recently served, I relied on two or three nationals with whom I had built a close relationship so that they could explain to me what was really going on. When you work with a cultural guide, you model humility.

8. Don't Patronize
One time Phil Walker, president of International Christian Ministries, was talking with key church leaders in an African country and said, "Now keep in mind that what I bring to you, you sure don't have to accept. Please feel free to use only what you need or want." That sounded like a good thing to say at the time. But a wise and courageous African leader reprimanded him. "Don't treat us like children," he said. "We are adults and know what our people need and what they do not need, so just be bold and share what you have. We will decide what is good."

9. Answer Questions Slowly
The Gospels make note of how Jesus answered a question with a question. We should avoid the temptation to show off by giving a quick solution to someone else's problem. A wise African church leader once told a missionary, "If you see a spark of a flame of leadership in an African leader, be very careful not to blow it out."

10. Plan Your Exit Strategy
For every successful long-term development project, there needs to be a plan for the transition of power, energy, and momentum. Physical separation is often required for that transition to become a reality.

One axiom of development is that the people with the resources are ultimately the ones in control. The goal should be resource transition. People in the community need to look to themselves and to their own leaders for solutions. My pastor used to preach about the "ministry of presence"—and about the "ministry of absence."

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November 2007, Vol. 51, No. 11