000			01886pab a2200181 454500
008			180718b2003 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aHelmsing, A.H.J. (Bert)
245			_aLocal economic development: new generations of actors, policies and instruments for Africa
260			_c2003
300			_ap.67-76.
362			_a1 Feb
520			_aAs decentralisation advances, the question of local economic development acquires more significance. How can local governments and other local actors such as local producers and their associations, community based organisations, as well as NGOs and donors contribute to local economic development and poverty reduction? This article begins by examining how the context for local economic development has drastically changed. It stresses lack of demand and the absence of meso-level institutions, i.e., institutions at the level of sector and area. Their absence deters investment responses by enterprise or business development. The first seeks to facilitate household economic diversification as an essential stra tegy of rural and urban livelihood; the second, enterprise development, seeks specialisation of the local economic base. These two lines are complemented by a third category, namely locality development, designed to create local public goods and positive externalities. The final section elaborates on the principal actors and their roles, stressing the importance of joint action and collective learning. Local governments have an important facilitating role, creating a favourable business environment and infrastructure conditions, and to contribute to convergence in decision-making. - Reproduced.
650			_aLocal government - Africa
650			_aEconomic and social development - Africa
650			_aEconomic and social development
773			_aPublic Administration and Development
909			_a55667
999			_c55667 _d55667