This is the third ODI Working Paper which draws on work carried out under the Rural Resources and Poverty Research Programme. The first, Working Paper 80 by Hugh Turral entitled Devolution of Management in Public Irrigation Systems: Cost Shedding, Empowerment and Performance, deals with water resources, and the second, Working Paper 81 by Diana Carney entitled Changing Public and Private Roles in Agricultural Service Provision: A Literature Survey, looks at the role of the state in the agriculture sector.

The programme covers a number of subject areas: agricultural services (including research and extension), forestry, water resources and pastoralism. Individual literature reviews were prepared for all areas prior to fieldwork being undertaken. This paper is the product of one such review.