When researchers and practitioners in early childhood care and education interact, outcomes are often disappointing to both. It is likely that a new brand of professionals, capable of living in the cultures of both the researcher and the practitioner, will bridge the gap. These professionals will be found mostly in intermediary organizations, establishing themselves between governmental structures, research institutions, and people working directly with children. Intermediaries, particularly those in non-governmental organizations, can provide a testing ground for any intervention model or theory. This paper discusses those people who form the interface between theory and practice, and contains the following sections: (1) "Programme Developers of Funding Agencies"; (2) "Decision Making by Programme Developers"; (3) "Programme Developers as Development Specialists"; (4) "Networking," pointing out the lack of connection between the research communities of the poor and rich worlds; (5) "A Programme Development Approach"; (6) "An Operational Mandate"; and (7) "Conclusion: The Benefits and Risks of Guidelines," discussing the key principles gathered from accumulated early childhood care and education experience. (Contains 28 references.) (BGC)