In business writing the 'valley of death' is a term that's frequently used to describe the period when a start-up or a new product is effectively just surviving on borrowed time and money before it can actually get to profitability. If you don't make it across that valley you end up with bankruptcy or an inability to service your debt. I think this model is also very relevant for a lot of rural communities in Africa. You have externally funded projects, you have research orga