Sustainable Human Development: A new territorial and people-centred perspective

Today, the global debate on development is at a crucial turning point. Discussions on post-2015 processes with the UN, as well as on the reform of the EU Cohesion Policy, interact with a heterogeneous combination of diffused global instability and social unrest, long- standing recessions and extraordinary growth processes, together with increasing concentration of economic activity, wealth and power. Within this scenario, the authors stress the importance of dealing with economic competitiveness, social inclusion, environmental protection and poverty reduction at the local level, recognizing the interplay between the evolution of local development systems and the expansion of individual and collective capabilities. Blending Amartya Sen's people-centred and opportunity-oriented Capability Approach with the literature on place-based local development processes, this book helps in understanding multidimensional paths of local change within a Sustainable Human Development perspective and analysing what means are available to enable human flourishing. Chapter 1: Sustainable Human Development at the local level 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Unexplored synergies between the capability approach and the local development perspective 1.3 Rationales for a new SHD perspective at the local level 1.4 Structural elements of SHD at the local level 1.5 Some clarifications about the new perspective 1.6 Conclusions Appendix 1: Levels and trajectories of SHD at the local level Chapter 2: The STEHD framework - Sustainable Territorial Evolution for Human Development 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The STEHD framework 2.3 Exploring the territorial dynamics of SHD processes 2.4 What is the STEHD framework for? 2.5 Conclusions Appendix 2: Alternative Modeling Chapter 3: The role of multilevel governance for SHD at the local level 3.1 Introduction: a world with no isolated territories 3.2 The horizontal and vertical articulation of SHD processes 3.3 An evolutionary analysis of multilevel governance mechanisms for SHD at the local level 3.4 Multilevel governance mechanisms for SHD: evidence from two Latin American countries 3.5 Conclusions Appendix 3: Multilevel governance and international coordination Chapter 4: International development cooperation at the local level: the UNDP ART Global Initiative 4.1 Introduction: rethinking international development cooperation 4.2 The characteristics of the UNDP ART Global Initiative 4.3 Comparing traditional aid policies and the ART Initiative 4.4 Analysing ART enabling processes for SHD 4.5 Conclusions Appendix 4: Structured Focus Group Discussions as a tool to analyse complex development programs Chapter 5: Enabling factors for local economic development: Local and Regional Development Agencies 5.1 Introduction: exploring local governance tools for SHD 5.2 LEDA’s main features and operational issues 5.3 LEDA’s enabling processes for SHD 5.4 An empirical example of local “meta-organiser”: REDASP (SR) 5.5 Conclusions Appendix 5: Relevant projects implemented by REDASP Chapter 6: A “policy-enabling space” for SHD at the local level 6.1 Introduction: going behind policy recommendations 6.2 Policy evolution and conflict dynamics 6.3 Elements of a “policy-enabling space” for SHD 6.4 Conclusions Appendix 6: How to evaluate complex and context-specific development programs Chapter 7: Final remarks and future perspectives for SHD at the local level 7.1 The relevance and novelty of SHD at the local level 7.2 What type of application for SHD at the local level? 7.3 What future for SHD at the local level?