Local Economic Development

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…

Photovoice: Street Life in Ivory Park

The recently released Participate report, Work With Us (see my previous post), contains a short case on an interesting photographic assignment that was conducted in Ivory Park, South Africa. Ivory Park is a large township in the City of Johannesburg. The landscape is densely settled, and the street is central to people’s lives, providing space for…

Why development cannot help the poor without their help

A new report from the Participate Initiative emphasises the importance of social networks in development and the need to listen to the perspectives of the most marginalised. The report highlights the complex relationship between social networks and formal institutions and the need for development organisations to recognise this before implementing new programs or technologies. Participate is an initiative to…