Wierenga (ibid.: 845) suggest that working with small feminist NGOs might bring the
best results. Similarly, Friedman (1992: 139) sees micro-projects as more appropriate
for alternative development initiatives. The author states that the micro-projects are
more sensitive to the local needs and more experimental in their methods (ibid.).
Friedman (ibid.: 140) lists the advantages of micro-projects as follows: financial
assistance goes directly to the poor; they are relatively inexpensive; they are peopleintensive;
face-to-face interaction is an essential component of the micro-projects;
they use more appropriate technology, often as extension of existing practices; they
have flexible management, and changes are possible in the course of
implementation; they are fine-tuned to the local conditions; they are oriented toward
mutual learning between external agents and local actors (transactive planning);
control for negative side effects is relatively easy and quick; they have a short startup
time. Micro-projects at local level carried out by small feminist NGOs or women's
grass-roots organizations seem to be more promising in terms of achieving
empowerment goals. However, also here, there are at least two major problems
which remain unsolved. First, as Wierenga (1994: 845) points out, the scope of