The service NGOs in rural areas have a generally fine history of support to CBOs. Many have proven ability to provide networking, capacity building and information, and to create leverage to ensure the application of democratic principles in development activities. Particularly while the coverage of services is so poor in rural areas, every effort should be made to employ the services of service NGOs, but in ways that leave CBOs and elected councillors with the ability to set the agenda. Good Planning and information Officials working for Rural District Councils and Rural Local Councils will be obliged to learn the RDP business planning processes to ensure that rural dwellers benefit from the use of government funding. They will have to learn the importance of collecting good information to support their applications for funds, and to monitor and evaluate the use of the funding.
Good information is the basis of good planning .
It is also a basic requirement for monitoring and responding to poverty and hardship in the rural population, and for monitoring and alleviating environmental damage. Appropriate information is therefore a powerful tool and argument which rural people can use to ensure they can compete well with the urban areas for state funding. While the state is committed to infrastructure development, improvement in services and a facilitative environment for entrepreneurial and local economic development, it is up to rural people to make it work for them.