Place Based Economic Development with Simon White

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New frontiers in water policy and water rights

New frontiers in water policy and water rights

A changing climate and rising tensions over shared rivers are pushing water to the centre of development policy. This article explores new frontiers in water policy and water rights, from systems thinking and equity to blue/green water and transboundary governance.

Water services and the business enabling environment

Water services and the business enabling environment

Water services and the business enabling environment are deeply interconnected. In this article, I explain how reliable, climate‑resilient water systems shape private sector development, jobs, investment and the overall business‑enabling environment.

Private sector development can contribute to transformational adaptation

Beyond sustainability in private sector development

Simon White | Private sector development can contribute to transformational adaptation and the regeneration of our ecologies and ecosystems.

Circular economy innovation

Circular economy innovation: organic pork in Vietnam

Simon White | Circular economy innovation. Governments can learn from private innovators and work with them to create a business environment that sets the market signals for a sustainable, circular economy.

lessons from Jordan in public-private dialogue

The Challenge of Business Representation in Public-Private Dialogue in Jordan

Simon White | This article draws on lessons from Jordan in public-private dialogue. It highlights the challenge of representing informal business in formal dialogue processes.

The drive to formalise the informal economy

Doing business with strangers and the drive to formalise: Lessons from the Solomon Islands

Simon White | This article looks at what the drive to formalise in the Solomon Islands teaches us about the formal economy and the need for reform.

climate-resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem

Creating a climate-resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem

How can governments, business communities and others create a climate-resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem that provides the solutions we need? The demand for climate resilience has never been greater. While governments are slowly acting to transition away from fossil fuels, the private sector is expected to step up and invest in green

innovation drives competitiveness

How innovation can drive industry competitiveness

Simon White | Discover how innovation can drive competitiveness for private firms. Learn how a Horticulture Innovation Group in Vietnam has helped smallholder farmers diversify and thrive.

Investing in skills development.

Helping businesses invest in skills development

Because the private sector creates the most employment globally, we need to pay attention to how we can encourage private businesses to invest in skills development. Private business owners must come to see how a more skilled workforce will improve productivity, business competitiveness and profitability. Moving beyond workers as a

Australia support for private sector development

Australia's new International Development Policy sets a broad scene for private sector development

The new — and highly anticipated — Australian International Development Policy sets the scene for Australia’s future support for private sector development. While there is not a lot of detail on how Australian aid should work with the private sector or support private-sector development, it does contain some essential elements that

Promoting local SME participation in public procurement

Promoting local SME participation in public procurement

Promoting local small- and medium-enterprise (SME) participation in public procurement markets should be crucial in any government’s support for local economic development. I will never forget the experience of working in Glasgow many years ago in housing estates that contained extremely high levels of multigenerational unemployment. I remember meeting

Overcoming the barriers to SME participation in public procurement

Overcoming the barriers to SME participation in public procurement

Government agencies can take steps to overcome the barriers to small- and medium-enterprise (SME) participation in public procurement to enhance local employment and economic outcomes. Public procurement is an important source of market opportunity for businesses. It has been used to drive industrial development through government demand for industrial innovation

Investment

Local investment promotion agencies

Increasing attention is being given to supporting local investment promotion agencies to promote private investment for economic growth and job creation. While a national investment promotion agency, or IPA, builds on a country’s brand in foreign investment markets, a local agency works from the ground up. Local investment promotion

A theory of change for local government support for economic development.

Local government and economic development; a theory of change

Simon White | This article presents a theory of change for local government support for economic development.