Social Development Resources and opportunities Trainer: Smochină Ana-Maria

Concept(I) The community –Actors? –Problems? –Resources? Social connectivity -> social development Ex: Imagine the social structure of your own community

Concept(II)

Concept(III) Administration/Private Sector/Social Sector Social Capital –Formal interactions –Informal interactions –‘Grey’ interactions (positive/negative) Key connectors: Opinion leaders

Development analysis The development process – a model designed by specialists Assessing community needs /social problems Community characteristics which influence the efficiency of a development project : –Social capital – involvement, initiative, social proactivity –Social trust and communication with local institutions

Theoretical Models Cătălin Zamfir (Romanian Sociologist) Development as action plan of solving social problems The problem social problem is an opportunity of evolution to a desirable state Solution: internal resources (social capital) + external economic aid Dumitru Sandu (Romanian Sociologist Development ENDEO E ntrepreneurs – key element of development process DE finition – identify community characteristics/needs Solution: the O pportunity valued or not by the internal resources of the community

Usability Objective: desirable state of the community Internal resources: –social involvement – use of social capital –efficient communication between local institutions and entrepreneurs External resources: European funds The final purpose: “generalized norms of reciprocity and civic engagement networks encourage social trust and cooperation (...) and provide models for future cooperation”(Robert Putnam)

The final goal Entrepreneurs : –Trained as opinion leaders –Able to give accreditation, unity and cohesion to the collective action Local administration : –Prioritize social problems –Transfuse trust –Stimulate social cooperation Social Problem – as an evolution opportunity valued through internal resources and sustained by external economic aid Social capital – defines the abilities of the community to sustain a development project

Thus… Define needs/problems as development opportunities Train local authorities Use social capital as development tool Stimulate local initiative through active entrepreneurship

q Questions?

Thank you! Ana-Maria Smochina Contact:

*Addenda The audience will be involved in: Practical exercises of recognition of community’s needs/problems The importance of communication – applied exercises