Gretchen Ferguson | Simon Fraser University (original) (raw)

Papers by Gretchen Ferguson

Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, Nov 28, 2011

Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OBSL et l'économie sociale Book Review by Gretchen Hernande... more Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OBSL et l'économie sociale Book Review by Gretchen Hernandez The Fair Trade Revolution. Edited by John Bowes. London and New York: Pluto Press. 2011. 257 pp. ISBN 9780745330785 The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challenges of Fair Trade. The goal is clearly to promote the practice of Fair Trade as a way to address the fundamental problem of extreme income inequality in the world. The authors are people directly engaged in Fair Trade organizations and businesses and see it as a key component in constructing economies founded on ethics.

Voluntas, Jun 25, 2018

The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private an... more The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private and public sector); or by a typology of the organizations involved (such as cooperatives, non-profit organizations and social enterprises); or by the principles and values driving such activities (such as cooperation, mutual benefit, and democracy). One important consideration is often overlooked, namely that the SE emerges in different forms and with varied emphases depending on location. The SE is 'place-based'-rooted in specific geographic, historical, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. This article explores the conceptualization of the SE in the Bolivian context from the perspective of government and civil society actors. The research took place after the country recognized the importance of the social, cooperative and community economy in their new constitution and found that the understanding of the SE in Bolivia relates strongly to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage.

This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challen... more This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challenges, and institutional environment for the Social Economy (SE) and Community Economic Development (CED) in Bolivia. In particular, the research seeks to understand if and how the SE and CED support shifts of indigenous peoples from spaces of marginalization to places of participation in economic, political, and socio-cultural terms. Bolivia provides a relevant context for exploring the intersections between questions of indigenous-led development, CED and the SE. A new constitution, adopted in February 2009, enshrines indigenous rights to traditional territories and selfgovernance; decentralization of resources and decision-making to local levels; and an economic development model that includes 'social and community forms of economic organization'. Field research explored three cases of collective economic initiatives in rural indigenous communities in the Bolivian highlands within the context of changing local and national governance relationships. The research shows that the particularities of SE conceptualization and practice in Bolivia relate to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage. There is significant variation in the structures, activities, and scales between the three cases, indicating heterogeneity in indigeneity and a corollary need to move past the traditional-modern dichotomy that shapes much discourse about indigenous peoples. The case studies demonstrate that SE and CED approaches can support improvements in local well-being, measured in social, economic, and cultural terms. Local institutions such as campesino unions and municipal governments are actively supporting the SE but are hindered by national policies and lack of capacity. Finally, place matters to the potential, form, and agency of development, since the culture, history, and institutions and web of interactions in each place can shape, support or impede efforts to foster the SE and CED. The Bolivian examples provide learnings that can be generalized to development theory and practice in general. Although the SE manifests in different forms in different places, it emerges for similar reasons-to address uneven development caused by the social and economic exclusion of particular places and groups of people at the local, national, and international levels. Previously colonized people can use SE and CED approaches to foster increased independence and collective well-being.

Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, May 14, 2013

ABSTRACT This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development... more ABSTRACT This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), in which twenty-two participants from Canada and Latin America shared and reflected on experiences ranging from cultural tourism in Bolivia to a food processing co-op in Northern British Columbia. The forum demonstrated that at least some Indigenous peoples in Canada and Latin America share common values that guide the kind of development they want in their territories and communities; and that their orientation toward collective and participatory approaches to development can be grouped together under the concept of CED. The article has two main conclusions. First, that CED can be understood as a potential path to Indigenous-defined development and complement to self-determination movements. Second, that online media is a viable option for creating spaces for learning and exchange between Indigenous peoples across national and language borders, with the potential to contribute to the creation of translocal networks. RÉSUMÉ Cet article analyse un forum en ligne sur les questions autochtones de développement économique communautaire (DEC), où vingt-deux participants du Canada et de l'Amérique latine partagé et réfléchi sur les expériences allant du tourisme culturel en Bolivie à un traitement coopérative alimentaire dans le Nord de la Colombie-Britannique. Le forum a démontré qu'au moins certains des peuples autochtones du Canada et de l'Amérique latine part des valeurs communs qui guident le type de développement qu'ils veulent dans leurs territoires et les communautés, et que leur orientation vers des approches collectives et participatives de développement peuvent être regroupés sous le concept de DEC. L'article a deux principales conclusions. Tout d'abord, que DEC peut être comprise comme une voie potentielle pour les communautés autochtones défini le développement et un complément de mouvements d'autodétermination. Deuxièmement, que les médias en ligne est une option viable pour la création d'espaces d'apprentissage et d'échange entre les peuples autochtones à travers les frontières nationales et linguistiques, avec le potentiel de contribuer à la création de réseaux translocales.

The field of Indigenous entrepreneurship arose from inquiries into the nature of entrepreneurship... more The field of Indigenous entrepreneurship arose from inquiries into the nature of entrepreneurship among diverse cultural groups, highlighting that the standard conception of the innovative, risk-taking individual does not accurately describe entrepreneurship by marginalized populations (Indigenous, immigrant, etc.) (Anderson, 2006; Mitchell, 1999). Indigenous entrepreneurship tends to have a collective orientation in structure or distribution of benefits (Swinney, 2007). Research with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Andes shows that the community-based enterprise is a common model — in which the community acts “corporately as both entrepreneur and enterprise in pursuit of the common good” (Peredo & Chrisman, 2006). For profit activities are established to generate revenues for health and education services or to retain and regenerate traditional cultural practices. This research explores several cases of Indigenous-run community enterprises in Bolivia and Ecuador — tracing their characteristics, benefits and challenges for contributing to well-being in the broadest sense. The potential contribution of such enterprises to self-determination is also discussed. SPEAKER BIO Gretchen Ferguson (Hernandez) is Associate Director, International and Researcher with the Centre for Sustainable Community Development. She has spent over 20 years engaged in applied research and professional practice in Latin America and Canada related to sustainable communities, community economic development, Indigenous economic development and decolonization, social economy, and measuring the impacts of development projects and initiatives. She teaches courses regularly in Sustainable Community Development, Development and Sustainability, and Human Geography in the Faculty of Environment. Gretchen holds a PhD in Geography from Simon Fraser University, a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor\u27s degree in International Relations from Concordia University

Library has Spanish version: Planeacion de una gobernanza efectiva en las areas metropolitanas de... more Library has Spanish version: Planeacion de una gobernanza efectiva en las areas metropolitanas de Mexico

ANSWER Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, 2013

This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), i... more This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), in which twenty-two participants from Canada and Latin America shared and reflected on experiences ranging from cultural tourism in Bolivia to a food processing coop in Northern British Columbia. The forum demonstrated that at least some Indigenous peoples in Canada and Latin America share common values that guide the kind of development they want in their territories and communities; and that their orientation toward collective and participatory approaches to development can be grouped together under the concept of CED. The article has two main conclusions. First, that CED can be understood as a potential path to Indigenous-defined development and complement to self-determination movements. Second, that online media is a viable option for creating spaces for learning and exchange between Indigenous peoples across national and language borders, with the potential to contribute to the creation of translocal networks.

Version ingles en la biblioteca: Planning for effective governance in metropolitan areas in Mexico

The Metropolitan Governance in Mexico: Learning from the experiences of Canada and Brazil was an ... more The Metropolitan Governance in Mexico: Learning from the experiences of Canada and Brazil was an action-research project that sought to identify the characteristics of design, implementation and policies of metropolitan structures that might be applicable and useful in addressing the need for collaborative governance and coordinated action in metropolitan areas of Mexico. The project used an action-research approach that allowed us to co-generate knowledge by providing opportunities for sharing and reflection between multi-stakeholder groups. This project engaged researchers from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Canada, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Brazil, and the Centro Mario Molina (CMM) in Mexico with stakeholders engaged in the field of metropolitan governance: municipal authorities and staff, policy experts, regional government specialists, and NGO staff. Through a combination of interviews, literature review, workshop, and collaborative analysis of research results, we created a learning community to explore the models, success factors, and considerations in designing effective collaborative governance for urban areas.

This document outlines the context for metropolitan governance in Mexico, models of metropolitan ... more This document outlines the context for metropolitan governance in Mexico, models of metropolitan governance, and key considerations to take into account when attempting to design and implement a metropolitan region. The information is derived from an action-research project that explored models and issues in metropolitan governance from around the world, with particular emphasis on learning from Canadian and Brazilian experiences.

The research involved a comprehensive literature review; one-on-one semi-structured interviews with key players in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) and the Metropolitan Area Colima (ZMC) in Mexico, and a learning exchange workshop held in Guadalajara in November 2014 with participation from Mexico, Canada and Brazil. Although the project focused on the AMG and ZMC, the information is useful for any Mexican region grappling with issues of metropolitan level inter-governmental coordination. The paper does not intend to provide a one-size-fits-all prescription for all regions of Mexico, but rather some guidelines for a broad analysis in the different contexts.

The document first explores the Mexican context for metropolitan governance. Like the rest of the world, Mexico faces tremendous expansion across its urban areas. Its 59 metropolitan regions contribute 67% of the country’s GDP (SEDESOL, 2010), yet most have limited capacities to manage shared interests across their municipal jurisdictions. Although several government bodies have begun to address planning at the metropolitan level (e.g. the revision of the General Law of Human Settlements), legal aspects continue to hinder the formation of a metropolitan level of governance.
The document goes on to explain various models of metropolitan governance from around the world. Classifying governance models according to some of their key distinguishing features helps us understand their diversity. For example, models can be classified as institutional or non-institutional, and ordered from greater to lower levels of formality, political legitimacy, and sectoral reach. For the purpose of this project, we analyzed two examples of Metropolitan Regions: Metro Vancouver in Canada and the Natal Region in Brazil. Metro Vancouver was selected as an example of an effective metropolitan governance structure from a Northern region that has been operating successfully for more than 40 years, while Natal was selected as representative of a Southern region where conditions are more similar to those in Mexico.

The document also highlights aspects to consider when designing a metropolitan governance model, such as institutional design; cooperation; service delivery; social participation; land use; and financing. This section includes challenges, considerations, and related examples to help guide readers through the issues and possibilities for each topic. The paper concludes with a summary of lessons learned from this project and recommendations for governments and other stakeholders who are interested in better coordination and collaboration at a metropolitan level.

This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challen... more This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challenges, and institutional environment for the Social Economy (SE) and Community Economic Development (CED) in Bolivia. In particular, the research seeks to understand if and how the SE and CED support shifts of indigenous peoples from spaces of marginalization to places of participation in economic, political, and socio-cultural terms.

Bolivia provides a relevant context for exploring the intersections between questions of indigenous-led development, CED and the SE. A new constitution, adopted in February 2009, enshrines indigenous rights to traditional territories and self-governance; decentralization of resources and decision-making to local levels; and an economic development model that includes ‘social and community forms of economic organization’. Field research explored three cases of collective economic initiatives in rural indigenous communities in the Bolivian highlands within the context of changing local and national governance relationships.

The research shows that the particularities of SE conceptualization and practice in Bolivia relate to the country’s indigenous and colonial heritage. There is significant variation in the structures, activities, and scales between the three cases, indicating heterogeneity in indigeneity and a corollary need to move past the traditional-modern dichotomy that shapes much discourse about indigenous peoples. The case studies demonstrate that SE and CED approaches can support improvements in local well-being, measured in social, economic, and cultural terms. Local institutions such as campesino unions and municipal governments are actively supporting the SE but are hindered by national policies and lack of capacity. Finally, place matters to the potential, form, and agency of development, since the culture, history, and institutions and web of interactions in each place can shape, support or impede efforts to foster the SE and CED.

The Bolivian examples provide learnings that can be generalized to development theory and practice in general. Although the SE manifests in different forms in different places, it emerges for similar reasons–to address uneven development caused by the social and economic exclusion of particular places and groups of people at the local, national, and international levels. Previously colonized people can use SE and CED approaches to foster increased independence and collective well-being.

circle.ubc.ca, 1997

Micro-credit is the practice of making small loans to people with little or no collateral to help... more Micro-credit is the practice of making small loans to people with little or no collateral to help sustain and develop self-employment initiatives. It has been hailed as a tool for poverty alleviation, economic growth, community development and reducing gender inequities. The acclaimed effectiveness of this development strategy has resulted in an international movement to replicate it around the world, raising significant questions for planners about the transferability of the model.

The purpose of the thesis is to examine micro-credit in the context of Nicaragua, seeking to determine the ‘replicability’ of the strategy and its socio-economic development potential, particularly for women. The study focused on five micro-credit programs operating in and around the capital city Managua. Research methods included a literature review, interviews with credit program administrators, with relevant government agencies, and with a sample of borrowers from each of the programs.

The study indicates that micro-credit is an appropriate development strategy in Nicaragua. A convergence of factors has made self-employment a vital part of urban survival strategies, particularly for women and their families. With little government support for this sector, non-governmental programs are timely. Micro-credit was also revealed as an effective strategy, helping to sustain self-employment in a country with few social safety nets. In some cases, it is helping people develop viable businesses.

The study nonetheless pointed to several limitations to micro-credit as a poverty alleviation strategy. People in the lowest income sections of the population were not as likely to benefit from the business development potential of credit and were most burdened by the cost recovery policies of the programs. Although women make up 80% of borrowers, few programs address women’s need to move out of traditional occupations in which they experience inadequate income earning opportunities. As an economic development tool, micro-credit cannot address issues like market saturation, or lack of markets for crafts and other products.

Recommendations focus on ways that credit programs could improve their socio-economic development potential by expanding training and marketing opportunities for borrowers. The national government is encouraged to recognise the importance of the micro-enterprise sector and to remove legislative barriers to profitability. Finally, international development agencies are cautioned not to overemphasise the poverty alleviation potential of micro-credit, nor to promote cost recovery goals at the expense of providing low-cost loans to the poor.

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private an... more The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private and public sector); or by a typology of the organizations involved (such as cooperatives, non-profit organizations and social enterprises); or by the principles and values driving such activities (such as cooperation, mutual benefit, and democracy). One important consideration is often overlooked, namely that the SE emerges in different forms and with varied emphases depending on location. The SE is 'place-based'-rooted in specific geographic, historical, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. This article explores the conceptualization of the SE in the Bolivian context from the perspective of government and civil society actors. The research took place after the country recognized the importance of the social, cooperative and community economy in their new constitution and found that the understanding of the SE in Bolivia relates strongly to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage.

Book Reviews by Gretchen Ferguson

ANSER Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, 2011

The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challeng... more The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challenges of Fair Trade. The goal is clearly to promote the practice of Fair Trade as a way to address the fundamental problem of extreme income inequality in the world. The authors are people directly engaged in Fair Trade organizations and businesses and see it as a key component in constructing economies founded on ethics.

Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, Nov 28, 2011

Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OBSL et l'économie sociale Book Review by Gretchen Hernande... more Revue canadienne de recherche sur les OBSL et l'économie sociale Book Review by Gretchen Hernandez The Fair Trade Revolution. Edited by John Bowes. London and New York: Pluto Press. 2011. 257 pp. ISBN 9780745330785 The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challenges of Fair Trade. The goal is clearly to promote the practice of Fair Trade as a way to address the fundamental problem of extreme income inequality in the world. The authors are people directly engaged in Fair Trade organizations and businesses and see it as a key component in constructing economies founded on ethics.

Voluntas, Jun 25, 2018

The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private an... more The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private and public sector); or by a typology of the organizations involved (such as cooperatives, non-profit organizations and social enterprises); or by the principles and values driving such activities (such as cooperation, mutual benefit, and democracy). One important consideration is often overlooked, namely that the SE emerges in different forms and with varied emphases depending on location. The SE is 'place-based'-rooted in specific geographic, historical, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. This article explores the conceptualization of the SE in the Bolivian context from the perspective of government and civil society actors. The research took place after the country recognized the importance of the social, cooperative and community economy in their new constitution and found that the understanding of the SE in Bolivia relates strongly to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage.

This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challen... more This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challenges, and institutional environment for the Social Economy (SE) and Community Economic Development (CED) in Bolivia. In particular, the research seeks to understand if and how the SE and CED support shifts of indigenous peoples from spaces of marginalization to places of participation in economic, political, and socio-cultural terms. Bolivia provides a relevant context for exploring the intersections between questions of indigenous-led development, CED and the SE. A new constitution, adopted in February 2009, enshrines indigenous rights to traditional territories and selfgovernance; decentralization of resources and decision-making to local levels; and an economic development model that includes 'social and community forms of economic organization'. Field research explored three cases of collective economic initiatives in rural indigenous communities in the Bolivian highlands within the context of changing local and national governance relationships. The research shows that the particularities of SE conceptualization and practice in Bolivia relate to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage. There is significant variation in the structures, activities, and scales between the three cases, indicating heterogeneity in indigeneity and a corollary need to move past the traditional-modern dichotomy that shapes much discourse about indigenous peoples. The case studies demonstrate that SE and CED approaches can support improvements in local well-being, measured in social, economic, and cultural terms. Local institutions such as campesino unions and municipal governments are actively supporting the SE but are hindered by national policies and lack of capacity. Finally, place matters to the potential, form, and agency of development, since the culture, history, and institutions and web of interactions in each place can shape, support or impede efforts to foster the SE and CED. The Bolivian examples provide learnings that can be generalized to development theory and practice in general. Although the SE manifests in different forms in different places, it emerges for similar reasons-to address uneven development caused by the social and economic exclusion of particular places and groups of people at the local, national, and international levels. Previously colonized people can use SE and CED approaches to foster increased independence and collective well-being.

Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, May 14, 2013

ABSTRACT This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development... more ABSTRACT This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), in which twenty-two participants from Canada and Latin America shared and reflected on experiences ranging from cultural tourism in Bolivia to a food processing co-op in Northern British Columbia. The forum demonstrated that at least some Indigenous peoples in Canada and Latin America share common values that guide the kind of development they want in their territories and communities; and that their orientation toward collective and participatory approaches to development can be grouped together under the concept of CED. The article has two main conclusions. First, that CED can be understood as a potential path to Indigenous-defined development and complement to self-determination movements. Second, that online media is a viable option for creating spaces for learning and exchange between Indigenous peoples across national and language borders, with the potential to contribute to the creation of translocal networks. RÉSUMÉ Cet article analyse un forum en ligne sur les questions autochtones de développement économique communautaire (DEC), où vingt-deux participants du Canada et de l'Amérique latine partagé et réfléchi sur les expériences allant du tourisme culturel en Bolivie à un traitement coopérative alimentaire dans le Nord de la Colombie-Britannique. Le forum a démontré qu'au moins certains des peuples autochtones du Canada et de l'Amérique latine part des valeurs communs qui guident le type de développement qu'ils veulent dans leurs territoires et les communautés, et que leur orientation vers des approches collectives et participatives de développement peuvent être regroupés sous le concept de DEC. L'article a deux principales conclusions. Tout d'abord, que DEC peut être comprise comme une voie potentielle pour les communautés autochtones défini le développement et un complément de mouvements d'autodétermination. Deuxièmement, que les médias en ligne est une option viable pour la création d'espaces d'apprentissage et d'échange entre les peuples autochtones à travers les frontières nationales et linguistiques, avec le potentiel de contribuer à la création de réseaux translocales.

The field of Indigenous entrepreneurship arose from inquiries into the nature of entrepreneurship... more The field of Indigenous entrepreneurship arose from inquiries into the nature of entrepreneurship among diverse cultural groups, highlighting that the standard conception of the innovative, risk-taking individual does not accurately describe entrepreneurship by marginalized populations (Indigenous, immigrant, etc.) (Anderson, 2006; Mitchell, 1999). Indigenous entrepreneurship tends to have a collective orientation in structure or distribution of benefits (Swinney, 2007). Research with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Andes shows that the community-based enterprise is a common model — in which the community acts “corporately as both entrepreneur and enterprise in pursuit of the common good” (Peredo & Chrisman, 2006). For profit activities are established to generate revenues for health and education services or to retain and regenerate traditional cultural practices. This research explores several cases of Indigenous-run community enterprises in Bolivia and Ecuador — tracing their characteristics, benefits and challenges for contributing to well-being in the broadest sense. The potential contribution of such enterprises to self-determination is also discussed. SPEAKER BIO Gretchen Ferguson (Hernandez) is Associate Director, International and Researcher with the Centre for Sustainable Community Development. She has spent over 20 years engaged in applied research and professional practice in Latin America and Canada related to sustainable communities, community economic development, Indigenous economic development and decolonization, social economy, and measuring the impacts of development projects and initiatives. She teaches courses regularly in Sustainable Community Development, Development and Sustainability, and Human Geography in the Faculty of Environment. Gretchen holds a PhD in Geography from Simon Fraser University, a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia, and a Bachelor\u27s degree in International Relations from Concordia University

Library has Spanish version: Planeacion de una gobernanza efectiva en las areas metropolitanas de... more Library has Spanish version: Planeacion de una gobernanza efectiva en las areas metropolitanas de Mexico

ANSWER Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, 2013

This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), i... more This article analyses an online forum on Indigenous Community-Based Economic Development (CED), in which twenty-two participants from Canada and Latin America shared and reflected on experiences ranging from cultural tourism in Bolivia to a food processing coop in Northern British Columbia. The forum demonstrated that at least some Indigenous peoples in Canada and Latin America share common values that guide the kind of development they want in their territories and communities; and that their orientation toward collective and participatory approaches to development can be grouped together under the concept of CED. The article has two main conclusions. First, that CED can be understood as a potential path to Indigenous-defined development and complement to self-determination movements. Second, that online media is a viable option for creating spaces for learning and exchange between Indigenous peoples across national and language borders, with the potential to contribute to the creation of translocal networks.

Version ingles en la biblioteca: Planning for effective governance in metropolitan areas in Mexico

The Metropolitan Governance in Mexico: Learning from the experiences of Canada and Brazil was an ... more The Metropolitan Governance in Mexico: Learning from the experiences of Canada and Brazil was an action-research project that sought to identify the characteristics of design, implementation and policies of metropolitan structures that might be applicable and useful in addressing the need for collaborative governance and coordinated action in metropolitan areas of Mexico. The project used an action-research approach that allowed us to co-generate knowledge by providing opportunities for sharing and reflection between multi-stakeholder groups. This project engaged researchers from Simon Fraser University (SFU) in Canada, the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Brazil, and the Centro Mario Molina (CMM) in Mexico with stakeholders engaged in the field of metropolitan governance: municipal authorities and staff, policy experts, regional government specialists, and NGO staff. Through a combination of interviews, literature review, workshop, and collaborative analysis of research results, we created a learning community to explore the models, success factors, and considerations in designing effective collaborative governance for urban areas.

This document outlines the context for metropolitan governance in Mexico, models of metropolitan ... more This document outlines the context for metropolitan governance in Mexico, models of metropolitan governance, and key considerations to take into account when attempting to design and implement a metropolitan region. The information is derived from an action-research project that explored models and issues in metropolitan governance from around the world, with particular emphasis on learning from Canadian and Brazilian experiences.

The research involved a comprehensive literature review; one-on-one semi-structured interviews with key players in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) and the Metropolitan Area Colima (ZMC) in Mexico, and a learning exchange workshop held in Guadalajara in November 2014 with participation from Mexico, Canada and Brazil. Although the project focused on the AMG and ZMC, the information is useful for any Mexican region grappling with issues of metropolitan level inter-governmental coordination. The paper does not intend to provide a one-size-fits-all prescription for all regions of Mexico, but rather some guidelines for a broad analysis in the different contexts.

The document first explores the Mexican context for metropolitan governance. Like the rest of the world, Mexico faces tremendous expansion across its urban areas. Its 59 metropolitan regions contribute 67% of the country’s GDP (SEDESOL, 2010), yet most have limited capacities to manage shared interests across their municipal jurisdictions. Although several government bodies have begun to address planning at the metropolitan level (e.g. the revision of the General Law of Human Settlements), legal aspects continue to hinder the formation of a metropolitan level of governance.
The document goes on to explain various models of metropolitan governance from around the world. Classifying governance models according to some of their key distinguishing features helps us understand their diversity. For example, models can be classified as institutional or non-institutional, and ordered from greater to lower levels of formality, political legitimacy, and sectoral reach. For the purpose of this project, we analyzed two examples of Metropolitan Regions: Metro Vancouver in Canada and the Natal Region in Brazil. Metro Vancouver was selected as an example of an effective metropolitan governance structure from a Northern region that has been operating successfully for more than 40 years, while Natal was selected as representative of a Southern region where conditions are more similar to those in Mexico.

The document also highlights aspects to consider when designing a metropolitan governance model, such as institutional design; cooperation; service delivery; social participation; land use; and financing. This section includes challenges, considerations, and related examples to help guide readers through the issues and possibilities for each topic. The paper concludes with a summary of lessons learned from this project and recommendations for governments and other stakeholders who are interested in better coordination and collaboration at a metropolitan level.

This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challen... more This dissertation seeks to understand the conceptualization, structure, main benefits and challenges, and institutional environment for the Social Economy (SE) and Community Economic Development (CED) in Bolivia. In particular, the research seeks to understand if and how the SE and CED support shifts of indigenous peoples from spaces of marginalization to places of participation in economic, political, and socio-cultural terms.

Bolivia provides a relevant context for exploring the intersections between questions of indigenous-led development, CED and the SE. A new constitution, adopted in February 2009, enshrines indigenous rights to traditional territories and self-governance; decentralization of resources and decision-making to local levels; and an economic development model that includes ‘social and community forms of economic organization’. Field research explored three cases of collective economic initiatives in rural indigenous communities in the Bolivian highlands within the context of changing local and national governance relationships.

The research shows that the particularities of SE conceptualization and practice in Bolivia relate to the country’s indigenous and colonial heritage. There is significant variation in the structures, activities, and scales between the three cases, indicating heterogeneity in indigeneity and a corollary need to move past the traditional-modern dichotomy that shapes much discourse about indigenous peoples. The case studies demonstrate that SE and CED approaches can support improvements in local well-being, measured in social, economic, and cultural terms. Local institutions such as campesino unions and municipal governments are actively supporting the SE but are hindered by national policies and lack of capacity. Finally, place matters to the potential, form, and agency of development, since the culture, history, and institutions and web of interactions in each place can shape, support or impede efforts to foster the SE and CED.

The Bolivian examples provide learnings that can be generalized to development theory and practice in general. Although the SE manifests in different forms in different places, it emerges for similar reasons–to address uneven development caused by the social and economic exclusion of particular places and groups of people at the local, national, and international levels. Previously colonized people can use SE and CED approaches to foster increased independence and collective well-being.

circle.ubc.ca, 1997

Micro-credit is the practice of making small loans to people with little or no collateral to help... more Micro-credit is the practice of making small loans to people with little or no collateral to help sustain and develop self-employment initiatives. It has been hailed as a tool for poverty alleviation, economic growth, community development and reducing gender inequities. The acclaimed effectiveness of this development strategy has resulted in an international movement to replicate it around the world, raising significant questions for planners about the transferability of the model.

The purpose of the thesis is to examine micro-credit in the context of Nicaragua, seeking to determine the ‘replicability’ of the strategy and its socio-economic development potential, particularly for women. The study focused on five micro-credit programs operating in and around the capital city Managua. Research methods included a literature review, interviews with credit program administrators, with relevant government agencies, and with a sample of borrowers from each of the programs.

The study indicates that micro-credit is an appropriate development strategy in Nicaragua. A convergence of factors has made self-employment a vital part of urban survival strategies, particularly for women and their families. With little government support for this sector, non-governmental programs are timely. Micro-credit was also revealed as an effective strategy, helping to sustain self-employment in a country with few social safety nets. In some cases, it is helping people develop viable businesses.

The study nonetheless pointed to several limitations to micro-credit as a poverty alleviation strategy. People in the lowest income sections of the population were not as likely to benefit from the business development potential of credit and were most burdened by the cost recovery policies of the programs. Although women make up 80% of borrowers, few programs address women’s need to move out of traditional occupations in which they experience inadequate income earning opportunities. As an economic development tool, micro-credit cannot address issues like market saturation, or lack of markets for crafts and other products.

Recommendations focus on ways that credit programs could improve their socio-economic development potential by expanding training and marketing opportunities for borrowers. The national government is encouraged to recognise the importance of the micro-enterprise sector and to remove legislative barriers to profitability. Finally, international development agencies are cautioned not to overemphasise the poverty alleviation potential of micro-credit, nor to promote cost recovery goals at the expense of providing low-cost loans to the poor.

VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations

The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private an... more The social economy (SE) is alternatively conceptualized as a third sector (between the private and public sector); or by a typology of the organizations involved (such as cooperatives, non-profit organizations and social enterprises); or by the principles and values driving such activities (such as cooperation, mutual benefit, and democracy). One important consideration is often overlooked, namely that the SE emerges in different forms and with varied emphases depending on location. The SE is 'place-based'-rooted in specific geographic, historical, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. This article explores the conceptualization of the SE in the Bolivian context from the perspective of government and civil society actors. The research took place after the country recognized the importance of the social, cooperative and community economy in their new constitution and found that the understanding of the SE in Bolivia relates strongly to the country's indigenous and colonial heritage.

ANSER Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, 2011

The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challeng... more The Fair Trade Revolution is a compendium of writings about the experience, impacts, and challenges of Fair Trade. The goal is clearly to promote the practice of Fair Trade as a way to address the fundamental problem of extreme income inequality in the world. The authors are people directly engaged in Fair Trade organizations and businesses and see it as a key component in constructing economies founded on ethics.