Foreningen af Udviklingsforskere i Danmark (FAU) - The Association of Development Researchers in Denmark

FAU CONFERENCE 2010

'Development that matters: Religion, Livelihoods, Social Movements and Community Development'

The Association of Development Researchers in Denmark (FAU) Annual Conference 2010 - 17-19 March 2010 at Danhostel Gjerrild

Theme 4: Community Entrepreneurs and Local Economic Development

With high levels of poverty persisting in many parts of the globe, local economic
development has (yet) to be able to bring about change in the situation of many poor
people and their communities. While models of local economic development is being
tried out, lately certain elements like micro credit and micro finance have been
highlighted as the magic keys. Often also local or here 'community' entrepreneurs have
been viewed as actors who could develop successful enterprises that would bring jobs
and income to the communities. While the entrepreneurs do, they are facing different
market challenges (lack of input, finance and tough competition - more and more often
from international chains). And many questions remain unanswered (individual
entrepreneurial capacities versus community (common) efforts, including the role of
local government and civil society organisations), how to instill change in environments
that are reluctant to change, and how to secure that local earnings remain at the local
level, become (re-)invested and contribute to potential growth.

Convenors: Søren Jeppesen (CBDS, CBS) and Jørgen Dige Pedersen (Aarhus
University, AU)
Resource persons: Jens Müller (AAU) and Annette Skovsted Hansen (AU)

Keynote Presenter: Eginald Mihanjo, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.