Development dynamics

The Friends of Bonou
local_development_dynamics.htm

Local development dynamics

More and more people in Africa, and elsewhere, are realizing that the African continent will only develop with home-grown solutions and not by blindly copying imported western development models.

This home grown model will probably be small scale, start locally and be based on the values of African society that thrives on communal values, responsibility and social cohesion. Nobody can ignore the power of markets and trade but African perspectives have to be found and will probably involve visionary stances on agriculture, international trade, debt, governance etc…

Africans have to muster a will to rebuild their self-esteem and self confidence in order for them to believe in themselves and their abilities but they also need to identify and link up with those people from elsewhere who are genuinely interested in a true African renaissance and true partnerships.

There are many such “small islands of success” in the continent but few people know about them. If you want to read about some of them and about the next challenge of scaling them up, we strongly recommend that you read about what is happening in Bonou as it is described in Dominique Hounkonnou’s book:

“ LISTEN TO THE CRADLE:

Building from local dynamics for African Renaissance”

(available from dhounk@yahoo.fr)

In his book, Dr Hounkonnou states that local dynamics hold a substantial potential for development. These local development initiatives can be entirely locally born or introduced by some external agent but they must owned by local people without too much formalisation. Of course no society can live in autarky and these initiatives need to be supported by partnerships but as Dr Hounkonnou explains, very few relationships between development actors can qualify as partnerships. Effective partnerships require equality.