Local Development Programs Research Articles

Territory, structures and interpretation — Two case studies of the European Union's LEADER I programme

This paper reflects on the nature of the EU LEADER I local (participative) rural development programme using two empirical case studies. The two initiatives are analysed temporally as they moved from the construction of a territorial rationale, through the establishment of local structures of participation and finally into a philosophy and modus operandi in the implementation phase. The central argument of the paper is that this style of approach reflects the basic principles of the local, territorial policy approach and that evaluation methods need to evolve to be able to focus on process, structures and interpretation/learning rather than on the measurement of concrete activity.

BEATING THE PARTICIPATION TRAP. ENSURING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES: A SOUTH AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

The transition to democracy in South Africa brought many perceived 'new' opportunities of reconstruction and development for the formerly disenfranchized black majority. Increased participation in the development process through local community empowerment was promoted, and was implemented through the establishment of local Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) forums. The RDP forums (members drawn from all the community-base organizations, political parties and other established civil organizations) were charged with the task of identifying and prioritizing the needs of the 'community' and also to make decisions on the allocation of resources to meet the identified needs. It is argued here that because of the variety of different interests represented on these forums, it became a difficult and intricate process to reach a consensus on sensitive issues such as prioritizing the allocation of scarce resources. Furthermore, by assuming functions formerly the responsibility of local authorities, the role of the latter became unclear. It is concluded that for reconstruction and development (the delivery of essential goods and services) to affect the lives of the poor and marginalized communities, it is imperative that the processes are initially driven by the national or regional RDP department, through local government structures, and not through civil society organizations such as RDP forums.

A local authority management development programme

Evaluates a competence‐based management development programme for a public sector client. Utilizes qualitative methodology to gather data about the impact of the programme on participants′ behaviour and skills. The focus is a large city council, and the participants are from a varied occupational background, e.g. careers, environmental health, social work. Concludes that while behavioural changes are evident, there is also continued merit in the more traditional academic aspects of development.

Brave New World: International Regulation of Subsidies and the Future of State and Local Economic Development Programs

Recent international trade agreements are likely to have profound effects on state and local development programs in coming years. The most important changes will come as a result of the new Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures concluded as part of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. Provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement and the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement may also affect development efforts. This article examines the new rules on subsidies and their implications for state and local economic development programs. It concludes that these programs are likely to come under increasing attack from trading partners of the United States. While there are limited exceptions to the new disciplines, many programs may have to be changed to comply with the new rules. Some programs may face countermeasures in other countries or may even be required to be removed by international dispute settlement procedures.

Learning about Management: An Analytic Large Group in a Management Development Programme

The author describes the use of a Group-analytic approach within a local government management development programme, in particular during the `large-group' sessions. Large-group sessions seem particularly effective in demonstrating the extent to which a manager is both committed to and able to understand and work with change.

Better Evaluation Is Needed for Economic Development Programs to Thrive

This article makes the case for more rigorous evaluations of state and local economic development programs, and provides some suggestions on how more rigorous evaluations may be accomplished.

L'agriculture : un atout pour le développement local ? Le cas de la commune d'Ugine (Savoie, France)

Abstract : Agriculture, an asset for local development ? Within the context of the revision of the development plan for Ugine, a small town in the French Alps, a review and analysis of agriculture were conducted in order to identify land to be protected and to transfer it officially to the protected domain. This agricultural study, carried out in a community which is first and foremost associated with industry, and steel in particular, provides an opportunity to consider a local development programme at a time when traditional activities, both agricultural as well as industrial, are experiencing a recession in the area. The aim of this local development pro- . gramme will be to create the structures needed for growth by developing a form of light tourism based on those aspects of the local area which contribute to its originality. The aim of the article is to suggest a few guidelines for developing a balance between agriculture, tourism and industry, while at the same time strengthening the links between local partners, development and spatial organisation.

Planning Replicable Small Flow Wastewater Treatment Facilities in Developing Nations

The implementation of urban village wastewater treatment plants in developing countries has historically been primarily a function of appropriate technology choice and deciding which of the many needy communities should receive the available funding and priority attention. Usually this process is driven by an outside funding agency who views the planning, design, and construction steps as relatively insignificant milestones in the overall effort required to quickly better a community's sanitary drainage problems. With the exception of very small scale type sanitation projects which have relatively simple replication steps, the development emphasis tends to be on the final treatment plant product with little or no attention specifically focused on community participation and institutionalizing national and local policies and procedures needed for future locally sponsored facilities replication. In contrast to this, the Government of Egypt (GOE) enacted a fresh approach through a Local Development Program with the United States AID program. An overview is presented of the guiding principals of the program which produced the first 24 working wastewater systems including gravity sewers, sewage pumping stations and wastewater treatment plants which were designed and constructed by local entities in Egypt. The wastewater projects cover five different treatment technologies implemented in both delta and desert regions.

A local authority management development programme: Some practical considerations

A local authority management development programme: Some practical considerations

Audience participation in radio development programmes: A study of radio seremban, a Malaysian local radio station

Among the methods adopted to accelerate rural quality of life in Malaysia is a continuous dissemination of development messages to the people. The local radio stations in the country are expected to be effective sources for the rural population's participation in radio for development. To what extent do the rural audience participate in the local radio development programmes? What factors are associated with audience participation in the radio development programmes? And what problems militate against audience participation? This study focused on audience participation in one of the local radio stations—Seremban Radio. The findings indicate that participation in terms of radio listenership was very high, feedback very low and audience's involvement in radio programme production was even lower. Five variables were found to be significant predictors of audience participation.

Rural development in Northern Ireland: Policy formulation in a peripheral region of the European community

This paper traces the formative influences on the emergence of rural development policy in Northern Ireland. The top-down and bottom-up structures introduced by Government are discussed and some potential limitations are identified. The paper suggests that three key issues need to be included on the policy formulation agenda: the nature of local development programmes, reducing the implementation gap, and training in rural development.

The US Experience with Local Economic Development

In this paper the increasing intensity of intermunicipal and interstate economic competition in the USA is noted. It is argued that the federal structure of the USA, the present political climate, and the mobility of capital combine to produce a situation of positive feedback leading to everincreasing subsidies. The situation constitutes a classic prisoner's dilemma. Decreased competition would be in the interests of all units of government. However, there is no way that a state or local government can opt out of the competition unilaterally and no mechanism by which collective action can be taken to reduce the intensity of competition. Also considered in this paper are the aggregate effects of local economic development programs in terms of taxes and public expenditures, efficiency, and equity, and several less commonly discussed considerations.

Evaluation of Local Economic Development: A Challenge for Policy Research

Local Economic Development (LED) policies and programmes are becoming a well established part of national and local government. The evaluation of programmes and projects draws upon a long series of examples which stretch back to regional policy. The problem with the current 'state of the art' is that it concentrates upon cost per job, albeit with more sophisticated discrimination of the effects. This paper suggests the benefits of placing evaluation in a broader context of performance measures which (a) reflects more fully the objectives of the policy and (b) allows greater insights into comparative effectiveness and thus influences the reallocation of resources.

IMPROVED PERFORMANCE IN LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A WARM EMBRACE OR AN ARTFUL SIDESTEP?

This article examines the extent to which changing approaches to performance management have had an impact on a range of agencies responsible for local economic development programmes in Britain. It explores the possibility that the effectiveness of public programmes could be more sharply highlighted and incorporated in the performance review of organizations. It demonstrates that major improvements have occurred but that overall the planning and management of local economic development remains largely incremental. While the FMI (Financial Management Initiative) has led to greater understanding of the extent to which corporate and programme accountability can be achieved in public agencies, it is not clear that sufficient momentum has been achieved for future changes to be self‐generating. Further progress in performance management continues to be dependent on strong external pressures to publicize, probe and reward demonstrable improvements in public sector performance.

The life and death of regional initiatives in western Sydney: the case of the Local Government Development Programme

International Journal of Urban and Regional ResearchVolume 12, Issue 4 p. 609-626 The life and death of regional initiatives in western Sydney: the case of the Local Government Development Programme Liz Fulop, Liz FulopSearch for more papers by this authorDick Sheppard, Dick SheppardSearch for more papers by this author Liz Fulop, Liz FulopSearch for more papers by this authorDick Sheppard, Dick SheppardSearch for more papers by this author First published: December 1988 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.1988.tb00099.xCitations: 1AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume12, Issue4December 1988Pages 609-626 RelatedInformation

Locality and Community in the Politics of Local Economic Development

Abstract Concomitant with the contemporary restructuring of local economies in the United States has been a distinctive local politics: one which revolves around a competition among localities rather than conflict with in them. The role of the local dependence of various actors is explored with a view to explaining this politics. Some firms are locally dependent and form business coalitions to stimulate investment in their local economy. They attempt to harness the powers of local government, which are susceptible as a result of their own local dependence. Subsequent local economic development programs often pose threats to people in their workplaces and living places and elicit opposition. To overcome this opposition, business coalitions attempt to promulgate a shared interest in a local community. This interest is extended to include threats to the local community implied by the economic development programs of business coalitions elsewhere. The local dependence of people makes them receptive to this ar...

Son of DURD or Nobody's Child? Urban Policy Aspects of Federal-Local Government Relations

Abstract The Office of Local Government, within the federal Department of Local Government and Administrative Affairs, is currently pursuing a number of urban policy initiatives through its Local Government Development Program. The paper reviews some of the constraints under which the program operates in the light of current bureaucratic, political and financial strictures.

The co‐ordination of developmental activities at the local level

AbstractLocal developmental activities involve the participation of a multiplicity of functionaries, bodies and agencies. This demands both intra‐authority and inter‐authority co‐ordination if programme formulation and implementation are to be effective. This paper reviews the performance of the Divisional Administration system operationalized in the former East Central State of Nigeria up to 1976, from the viewpoint of interjurisdictional co‐ordination. The paper identifies factors like lack of specific local development programmes, poor information flow and a de‐emphasis of the human factor in the organizational setting as being responsible for the ineffectiveness of the Divisional Administration system to co‐ordinate the activities of the different participating actors in local development. It is suggested that, in addition to the setting up of structures for decision‐making networks like committees, attention should equally be paid to the process that would energize and sustain the structures if problems of co‐ordination are to be obviated.

A new social contract with rural America

Resources utilized to alleviate the nation's shift from agriculture to industry are no longer useful because rural and international economic environments have changed dramatically. In rural America, there is no longer a “farm problem”but rural communities with specific problems. In an era of technological change, it is time to create an innovative social and economic contract to implement new food and farm policies with well funded local and state development and credit programs augmented by federal appropriations leading to free market pricing of agricultural products.

The Reagan Urban Policy: Efficient National Economic Growth and Public Sector Minimizaton

The Reagan urban policy is premised on a definition of efficient national economic growth which mandates public sector minimization. Such a policy is hostile to local economic revitalizalion and to attaching “social strings” to ensure that program benefits reach disadvantaged residents. Hence, such local economic development programs as EDA and UDA G have been attacked by the Reagan Administration. The CDBG program has been revised to allow states and localities further discretion to divert program funds from community development to economic development activities. Even the administration's enterprise zone plan does not attempt to contradict market forces in determining investment decisions. Rather, relief is given to business on business' terms with little assurance that the benefits of development will go to zone residents; and, eligibility is so broad as to allow zone designation in pockets of distress in otherwise economically healthy jurisdictions of the nation.