Iranian Rural Improvement Program.

The Iranian Rural Improvement Program was authorized under the Act for International Development. As applied to Iran, the program sought to furnish technical personnel trained in agriculture, education, public health, and sanitation; recruit nurses and engineers to live in Iran for a period of three years; and establish field hospitals in rural areas of Iran where local residents could be trained in basic hygiene and sanitation. The University of Utah was awarded a contract by the U.S. State Department in 1951 to supply staff necessary for the successful implementation of the project and to manage routine administration. I. O. Horsfall was director of the project from 1951 until it ended in 1957.

The demand for petroleum, following WWII increased demand of U.S. and other nations of Iran. This project was implemented by the State Dept. to aid underdeveloped areas in developing resources and improving working and living conditions by the exchange of technical knowledge and skills. The University of Utah in 1951 was awarded contract to staff and to manage its routine administration. The project ended in 1956.