The booklet maintains that the key to meeting basic human needs is the participation of individuals and communities in local problem solving. Some of the most important achievements in providing food, upgrading housing, improving human health, and tapping new energy sources, comes through local self-help projects. Proponents of local efforts at world problem solving point out that national and international efforts are too highly centralized to encourage direct action by those who are most affected. Examples of problem-solving achievements by local initiative include private-plot agriculture in socialist countries; prefabricated housing in industrial nations; solar heating in Chinese villages; and self health care in industrial and Third World nations. Cooperation of national and international agencies with community organizations can be effective if they combine local initiative with long-term financing for specific projects. Examples of successful cooperation include the World Bank Urbanization Project (which provided $866 million to 15 developing nations between 1972-77 for housing), and the local development project of the Inter-American Foundation (which distributed $40 million between 1971-76 to Latin American citizens groups for agricultural and housing improvements). The conclusion is that local participation in social reform offers individuals the opportunity to understand and develop administrative and organizational skills to deal with both immediate and long-term needs. (Author/DB)