The paper addresses the need for a practical guide to the formulation of an operational strategy for Informatics development in less developed countries. Given the importance of Informatics, which cuts across and interacts with almost all strategic sectors of a nation's life, the inherent problems attending its development in less developed countries call for a self‐reliant approach albeit with the support of the international community. Some key issues involved are discussed and the paper concludes with an illustrative 20‐point checklist of actions which, it is suggested, may be adapted as appropriate to meet the particular needs of any country.