This paper looks at a new approach which combines the various trends in the continuous evolution of the development planning and management disciplines. The approach has been succesfully applied by PROPLAN to development projects and programs in IICA members countries. Presented here is the application of the PROPLAN approach to the Colombian experience through the Project Management for Rural Development in Latin America (PROPLAN/A). The main trust was to strengthen the guidance or directive systems of Colombia's Integrated Rural Development Program (DRI). The experience illustrates the integral nature of the planning and implementation process. This includes the development of an environment conducive to the use of techniques for the transfer of know-how developed in collaboration with the institutions, the design of methodologies, and their application to the generation of products, all done in an atmosphere of teamwork with the staff responsible. These are some of the major features of the basic approach of PROPLAN/A. Chapter I illustrates the basic features of PROPLAN approach for strengthening guidance systems of agencies having to do with rural and agricultural development. The DRI Program is described in Chapter II. Chapter III discusses the aplication of the PROPLAN approach in Colombia. Chapter IV conceptualizes the PROPLAN/A operational model as the product in hemispheric component studies and country component experience in this case in Colombia, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. It also states the major conditions facilitating application of the approach to strengthening guidance systems. The main conclusions are given in the Final Considerations section of Chapter V