This article introduces the concept of local economic development. It answers the questions: What is local economic development? Why is local economic development relevant today? While the history of local economic development extends decades, the actions taken by local organisations and institutions have become even more relevant in the face of increasing levels of global…
Frugal innovations contribution to regional and economic development
I’ve been working on policy guidance to encourage frugal innovation (more on this later) and want to share my thoughts on the relevance of frugal innovation for regional and local economic development. Frugal innovation has been promoted as a business management practice that can be applied in resource-constrained conditions. However, it is also relevant for…
Creating public-private partnerships in Agriculture
Today, I met with the senior management team of the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) in Johannesburg, South Africa. This non-for-profit organisation facilitates linkages between private and public actors to build markets in the agriculture sector –– specifically in fertilisers. It does this so that African smallholder farmers can grow food and profits. AFAP works to:…
Ethnic power sharing in Africa
Mobutu Sese Seko, President of Zaire 1965 to 1997 In a new paper titled, “How Is Power Shared In Africa?”, Patrick Francois, Ilia Rainer, and Francesco Trebbi examine the role of ethnic elites. They investigate the ethnicity of cabinet ministers since independence (Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria,…