Self Sufficiency is a crucial element in our economic development and one of the key goals of African governments should be to create, develop and nurture micro enterprises.

Take food for example. What must we do to achieve the goal of self-sufficiency in food?  Micro entrepreneurs are the answers and heroes in the making.

Why do we import cooking oil while our coconuts are falling to the ground and rotting away?

Why are the rest of the mangoes rotting away in the mango season after we have eaten our fill? What stops us from drying the excess produce and packaging them as healthy snacks?

Why do we sell our basic crops so that someone can process them and sell them back to us? Why can’t we also take it to the next level and use it ourselves?

The reason why self-sufficiency in food is so crucial to our economic development is because ready access to affordable nutritious food is still a daily struggle for too many – adults and children alike. No child can concentrate and learn on an empty stomach so good nutrition plays a vital part in a good education.

Another reason is because food truly is medicine and eating properly will keep you healthy. Prevention is not just better than cure – it is far cheaper.

And for nations in Africa pursuing good health naturally is important so that we do not sink our scarce resources into unnecessary healthcare or continue to watch our people die avoidable deaths through ignorance. It is no secret that a highly sophisticated healthcare system costing billions of dollars is required to sit alongside any nation whose diet is mainly processed foods.

As developing countries with our quest to generate more foreign exchange we must also stop to consider how we are spending what we do have. How much of our scarce foreign exchange is being spent on buying food and medicines? How many African countries are net food importers? How do we reduce this proportion by not needing to import as much basic foods because we grow and eat our own produce?

So we could say that there are issues of shortage, quality, low yield price, lack of choice, increasing demand for Western food, poor infrastructure, etc  etc.  Are these problems with no solutions or these opportunities just waiting for an entrepreneur to address and make some money along the way?

And to that entrepreneur who sees opportunities where others see problems and is willing to work hard, to risk something, the role of government is to empower that person to succeed.

The government can do this by providing vision, information, education, training and micro finance.

Why vision? – Because poverty and prolonged hardship breeds a mindset  of ‘I can’t’ , of ‘it’s impossible’  and of ‘being defeated before you even try’. That is why poverty is said to be the curse of the poor. As part of supporting micro enterprise we need to teach entrepreneurs about envisioning – the art of seeing something in your mind. We need to break out of the mindset that someone else has the solution to the problems we face.

Why information? – Governments should provide information via briefing sessions in towns and villages, riding on the back of established and informal networks to dissemination this information. They need to establish ‘buy local ‘national campaigns on to support local entrepreneurs. The information highway means that we can also find out what others are doing and even how they are doing it so that we also can learn and adapt it to our situations. Eg In 2008 the “Ghana Rice” campaign, an intensive marketing campaign to promote Ghanaian rice to consumers in Northern Ghana. The campaign was a pilot initiative to complement the Government’s initiatives aimed at increasing rice production and improving the quality of Ghanaian rice so as to make it more profitable for farmers in Northern Ghana. In four short weeks, the marketing strategies reached an average of 57% of the people of the Northern Region of Ghana. Of these people, 26% reported buying quality Ghanaian rice because of the campaign.

Why Education/Training? – Because we need to learn to work smarter than our parents not harder and that requires education in problem solving. We need a generation of individuals who will take things one step further and who understand that competition is good.  This could involve quality improvements, packaging, processing, marketing, customer care and better distribution methods. Why not start them young and start teaching entrepreneurship in schools?

Micro Finance – Because finance will often be needed to kick start an enterprise.  I propose some kind of matching with the existing local ‘susu’ type scheme with its built in safeguards, thereby doubling the amount that can be borrowed. This has been done successfully by some banks in West Africa.

The growth of micro entrepreneurs is instrumental to economic development of the African nations. Entrepreneurs  see opportunities where other see problems, they will look for creative ways to start to maximise the resources we have at home and help reduce our dependence on food imports.

This all leads to reduction in imports, improved health and lifestyle thus reducing health costs to the individual and the state. A nation getter richer is also a nation getting poorer if its people do not change their thinking. We must be careful not to give up  the good aspects of the African culture, diet, lifestyle and outlook on life while we import western food, western culture and western diseases. It costs far more than we are prepared to pay.

Ruth Djang, Co- founder of London Academy for Economic Development and ABi Associates (www.abi.co.uk)

Published in New Africa Analysis: July 2012
www.newafricaanalysis.co.uk

Catalyst Gateway in partnership with the London Academy for Social and Economic Development, The Pre School Learning Alliance and Ealing Council have secured funding from the government’s Skills Funding Agency as part of the new Adult and Community Learning Fund, to reach out and inspire residents of the Windmill Housing Estate in Southall to get involved in informal learning activities and groups.

Activities will focus around the Windmill Community Centre, which is in the centre of the estate. The WELL (West London Learning Leaders) project will work over the coming 6 months or so with a group of residents from the estate, giving them training, support and confidence to ensure their groups continue and flourish.

Colin Gilfillan, Director of the London Academy, said: “whether you want help to make the most of your interests and hobbies or you want to explore how you can turn your ideas into a business, WELL is a great way to get involved. We are really excited about working with local people to help them develop their confidence and skills.”

The Adult and Community Learning Fund, from the Skills Funding Agency and managed by NIACE, will contribute to the Government’s aspirations for Informal Adult and Community Learning. The Fund will help to support independence, personal development, mental/physical health and well-being, digital inclusion, democratic engagement, social cohesion and stronger families and communities.

Geoff Russell, Chief Executive of the Skills Funding Agency, said:  “Each project that has secured funding from the Adult and Community Learning Fund will make a tremendous difference to the lives of individuals and to the communities they are part of. Skills and lifelong learning should be at the heart of every community and the Government is committed to making that happen with its vision for the Big Society.”

Carol Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive of NIACE, added,  “NIACE is proud to have the role of supporting Skills Funding Agency in managing the Adult and Community Learning Fund. The response to this bid has been staggering – we received over 2400 bids. Deciding which of the projects should receive funding has been incredibly tough, however this means that the very best projects are now starting work and transforming the lives of local people and local communities.”

For further information on the WELL initiative please contact:   Kerry Starling, on  0845 437 9705 at Catalyst Gateway,  www.catalystgateway.org.uk or Liz Mackie, liz@londonaed.com at The London Academy for Social and Economic Development, www.londonaed.com

About the London Academy: The London Academy for Social and Economic Development was set up to pilot good ideas and promote networking and exchange of ideas and practices among people working in economic and social development across the world. The London Academy is based in The Grange, a 17th Century manor house in Neasden, North west London.  For further information please contact Colin Gilfillan, Director, London Academy for Social & Economic Development on 020 8974 8909 or colin@londonaed.com or look us up on our website www.londonaed.com

About Catalyst Housing Group:  Catalyst Housing Group operates in an area of considerable housing demand, from central London along the Thames valley to Oxford and Reading. The Group plays an important role in providing affordable accommodation for those who would otherwise be excluded from the housing market, while its homes for key workers assist those providing essential public services to live close to their place of work. Catalyst is also the Government appointed HomeBuy Agent for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. In addition to low cost home ownership, Catalyst’s work also includes regeneration schemes, general needs housing, sheltered and special needs housing, residential care homes, and key worker accommodation plus various community based initiatives including training. Catalyst is the parent company of three housing associations: Catalyst Communities Housing Association, Fortunegate Community Housing and Kensington Housing Trust. www.chg.org.uk

The London Academy will be piloting some short training courses in India in November & December 2011, working with the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce in Western India (www.mcciapune.com).

We are looking for suitably qualified and experienced trainer/s to help us to deliver in the following subject areas:

• Interpersonal Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Leadership Skills
• Entrepreneurship
• Assertiveness for Women

If you are selected we will pay for your flights, accommodation and an allowance for other expenses, for between one and three weeks. If the pilots are successful we intend to deliver the courses on a commercial footing from 2012.

You would be free to extend your stay in India if you want to take a holiday after the training finishes.

If you are interested, please can you send your CV with any additional information about relevant experience to info@londonead.com at the London Academy for Social and Economic Development. Please also confirm any dates which you will/will not be available in November and December.

Please ensure your information reaches us before 31st August 2011.

Please contact Colin or Vijay on 0208 438 4550 if you would like further information or for an informal chat.

The London Academy recently hosted a group of prospective diplomats from Romania.

The aspirant diplomats are participating in a programme of study visits and discussions to many parts of Europe organised by the Partnership for Europe, a Romanian based organisation with contacts and links across Europe and beyond.

Their packed programme of visits in the UK took in visits to see how local authorities work, visits to the Foreign Office and to the Romanian embassy.  They came to the London Academy to find out more about how the private, public and not for profit sectors can work together and to explore the concept of economic diplomacy.

In a wide ranging and lively discussion, we explored together various examples of economic diplomacy – from China to Turkey to the USA.  The group discussed and debated how different countries link diplomacy to the promotion of national economic interests.  UK foreign development and aid policy was also put under the microscope.

The London Academy’s Community Learning Champions (CLC) Project developed 24 leaders in West London to promote and encourage informal adult learning to their families, neighbours and communities.

The London Academy, with funding from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills, developed highly motivated and enthusiastic individuals through leadership training workshops, mentoring and networking support to enable them to fulfill the aim of the CLC national initiative (www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk)

It is easy to see what a difference Community Learning Champions make when you hear about the amazing things they have been doing. London Academy’s CLCs have found they have changed their own lives, the lives of the people they live with and the communities they live and work in.

Here are five examples of our Leaders making a difference.

The Academy’s own Colin Gilfillan recently presented the results of The Academy’s Brent Learning Leaders project at a meeting of the Local Government Information Unit /Warwick Business School’s Local Economic Development Learning Network.

Colin shared inspirational stories about the 23 local volunteers who came forward and who we  trained and developed to become Community Learning Champions with our partners Catalyst Communities Housing.  Colin also showed delegates a film about Community Learning Champions which had recently been produced by the CLC national development team.   Not a single delegate had heard of the initiative.  Some delegates were visibly moved by what they saw and heard.  There was concern among delegates about a) why the pilot development programme had not been more widely publicised and b) why such a successful initiative was coming to an end after such a short time (funding for CLC pilot projects began in late 2009 and came to an end at the end of March 2011).

You can find out more about the Academy’s project and the national CLC support programme here.

John Hayes, the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further Education and Skills, had two important messages for the conference in London on 9 March to celebrate the achievements of the Community Learning Champions programme.

The first was that the contribution of CLCs would be taken into account in the current review of informal adult and community learning that his department BIS is carrying out. Referring to the 100,000 learners reached by 2000 community learning champions, he said:

“We do not underestimate the impact that Community Learning Champions can have in their communities. Who else knows their community better than those who live within it? Over the coming months we will work closely with partners to consider how public funding can be refocused and reprioritised to guide and support the people who need the most help and have had the fewest opportunities.”

Secondly he added, visibly moved by the film about CLCs he had just watched, that when he got back to the office he would be looking at how to ensure that the CLC programme continued.

The London Academy has successfully delivers the Brent Learning Leaders CLC project. We have developed 23 leaders who have reached and engaged with over 500 adults learners in West London. Academy Director Vijay Amin is excited by the opportunity for the Brent Leaders in getting involved with localized agenda and the big society initiatives. He comments “Our CLCs have fabulous skills and connections to support agencies to reach out to adults from various communities in West London. They are an asset for us and it is our intention to continue to support and develop them over the next year..

As the Community Learning Champions’ Support Programme – funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – draws to an end later this month, the purpose of the event was to  celebrate the national programme’s success by highlighting how lives are transformed when learning champions are given effective resources, support and training. Eight projects presented aspects of their work at roundtable discussions and a further seven mounted exhibitions. Two new films were launched, soon to be available on line here.  A report on the work of the national support programme – featuring case studies of projects and individual Community Learning Champions – will be published on 29 March 2011.

www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk

Being rich is not about having more but appreciating more of what you already have: the ‘Small Society’ in action

As part of the London Academy’s mission to identify innovative aspects of community and economic development around the world, two directors of the London Academy – Vijay Amin and Colin Gilfillan – recently visited India.

They visited Pune in the central Indian state of Maharashtra.  Pune is an economic powerhouse and an example of the explosive growth experienced in many parts of urban India.  With a similar population to London, and an economy which at one point in the last decade was growing at an estimated 40% per year,  Pune continues to attract inward investment on a massive scale.   However, in common with much of India, one consequence of this rapid economic development is de-population of the countryside, with many communities drawn to the opportunities in urban India and away from the land.

Just a few miles from Pune’s massive urban development, the Academy directors visited a small scale rural development project – a farm with a difference- which provides a fantastic example of how sustainable development can really work.  The initiative aims to re-create lost employment opportunities in a rural area, revitalizing and capitalising on the skills and traditions of the local community, and opening up traditional and sustainable rural life for people living in urban areas.

The local community manages the farm along sustainable development lines.   City dwellers are encouraged to visit the centre for picnics, daytrips or to stay overnight either on the land or in buildings on the farm.      The farm is being developed by Sanjay Dalmia, the owner of a leading software company and now a social entrepreneur focused on sustainable development.  Sanjay is using ‘green’ skills and sustainable development approaches which he learned during a year-long study of sustainable rural development in Bali.  The farm uses state of the art, low tech, green approaches, from vermi-composting  to water harvesting.

Overnight visitors have different options depending upon how close to nature they want to be.  They  can stay in cement houses on the farm or share with local villagers in their houses, or stay in tents under thatched roofs.  Visitors can cook their own food, eat with local villagers or visit a local hotel for food.

We are currently putting together an itinerary for a larger scale study visit to provide the opportunity for people to have a closer look at some of the exciting new ideas emerging out of India.  Please get in touch with us at the Academy if you are interested.

Colin Gilfillan -colin@londonaed.com

Last month I visited our Spanish colleagues who run innovative and commercially successful initiatives in the Montblanc region (120km from Barcelona).

Aprodisca was established nearly 30 years ago to promote quality of life and social & economic integration of people with learning difficulties. They have done this by providing education, employment, housing, leisure and education programmes funded by public and private sectors in Catalonia. The organisation has a professional staff of sixty. Each year, it creates work placement opportunities within its organisation for between 30-50 individuals with learning difficulties.

During my two day visit I saw how Aprodisca has turned its core purpose into commercial opportunities. For example it now owns farming land and produces organic fruits and vegetables which are sold to customers living locally and in Barcelona. It has built a state of the art food manufacturing unit to produce organic sauces and food. It contracts with local car manufacturers to assemble car components giving employment opportunities to its core client group.

Aprodisca is a leader in Catalonia’s economic development sector. Its founders and staff have tremendous energy and foresight to ensure that their organisation is self-sustainable and moves forward all the time. They have a commercial mindset but at the same time a community purpose. They haven’t forgotten their roots.

Last year we hosted a London study visit for Aprodisca’s senior staff. We shared with them our knowledge and expertise in sustaining community initiatives and gave them some useful ideas on connecting with the business community. We are now planning to take a study visit to Aprodisca next spring. If you are interested in joining us please contact me, vijay@londonaed.com or on 0208 438 4550.

www.aprodisca.org

We are pleased to announce that the London Academy 1st visit to India will take place between 22nd November to 29th November 2010.

We will be visiting Mumbai and Pune to explore joint ventures and collaborations with education and training institutes, not for profit agencies operating in the healthy and well being sectors, film & television and commercial opportunities for Academy UK clients.

In our opinion we, in the UK, are missing out or too slow to take advantage of economic opportunities in India. The country’s economy is growing at 8% p.a and with that comes significant commercial and consumer opportunities for us, particularly our small enterprises and voluntary and not for profit organisations.

However, we in the UK are still lagging behind our European competitors when it comes to trading and doing business in India or with Indian partners. We have over 200 years historical and cultural links with India. We should be ahead of our competitors who have little or no historical links with India but who have in recent years established strong trading links there.

The London Academy is finalising its Indian visit itinerary. If you are interested in joining us or want more information please contact me, Vijay Amin, at: info@londonaed.com

“Relations between India and the UK are multi-dimensional, based on shared values, history and cooperative relationships”