Four Ways Economic Developers Are the Key to Solving Global Issues

Climate change. Gender equality. Food security. War. Labour unrest. Healthcare access. It seems like the world is only getting worse. When you turn on the news, you hear of new battles being fought, people suffering due to lack of basic necessities, sudden changes in government and much more. As time goes by, not only are there more global issues, but the issues are more complex. As global bodies struggle with these kinds of issues, it is my hope that Economic Developers will engage their communities to play a greater role in solving world problems. Here are four reasons why we are the best people to help tackle global challenges.

1. Scope

As Economic Developers, we have the ability to connect the global world with the local issues in each community. Fighting against climate change for a local community can involve implementing car-share programs to have fewer vehicles on the road; or investing in community gardens to decrease food miles. Such a globally complex issue can be tackled in relatively simple ways when Local Economic Developers act within their own communities. These communities can then interact with each other for a more sustainable world.

2. Access to Traditional Knowledge

“Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities around the world.” This type of knowledge is crucial to understanding the factors that are coming together to cause global issues. In a bid for better animal treatment, the media have been known to condemn members of the Inuit population for continuing to hunt seals. In this situation, an Economic Development Practitioner with local traditional knowledge understands the importance of the seal hunt to the lifestyle of the Inuit and the effect it has on the greater world. It is clear that the Inuit attempt to hunt seals in a sustainable manner.

3. Separation from Politics

The Economic Development Office is one that is focused on moving a community forward economically, socially and environmentally. We are not elected to our positions, but are put in a great position of service to our communities. There is sometimes tension created when Economic Development Councils are not required to hold public meetings, but many acknowledge that this separation allows the organization to focus on the needs of the community without the pressure of the media, populism and politics. This does not mean halting dialogue with the public on the plans for the region, but it makes sure that the Economic Development Office can do its job.

4. Capacity for Action

Our jobs put us in a position to take action! We have access to many private and public sector organizations which listen to and respect our advice, but we can also see the big picture. We are the first point of contact on any new initiative in our communities. Despite the challenges, we understand that the world is changing and strive to make sure that our communities can be competitive in this new world. Through these realities, we have many tools to move our communities forward, and working together, can strive to build a better world.

There are many global complex issues that world bodies are struggling to handle. By virtue of our roles in local communities, we are in the best position to do something about it. We have manageable scopes to work with, access to traditional knowledge, separation from politics and a capacity/competence for action. One of the reasons developing nations continue to suffer is the lack of a locally generated development office. In North America, this profession is alive, well, and continuously evolving. It is my hope that Economic Developers will engage their communities for the advancement of humanity. If we don’t answer the call, can we really call ourselves Economic Development professionals?

Source:

http://economicdevelopment.org/2017/06/economic-developers-global-issues/