TERRITORIAL APPROACH - Global Ecovillage Network

Description of Challenge

Globalisation increases disconnection between production and consumption. Enterprises and projects
which are not rooted within a specific territory can easily be de-localised, resulting in a loss of jobs and
added value for the local economies. In the meantime, at the local level (city, village, province, county),
some needs for products or services may not be fulfilled, while existing but unknown resources might be
available to contribute to fulfilling these needs.

"The implementation of a territorial approach will help to identify different needs which depend on the
specific conditions of the area (high targeted policies). The territorial approach can be also helpful to
improve policy coherence, to reach a better coordination between different policies and interventions, as
well as between different actors and stakeholders." (source: FAO - “Territorial Approach to Food Security
and Nutrition Policies: Empirical Evidence and Good Practices”, 2013)

Solution

The territorial approach is part of a local development strategy, usually designed by a group of
stakeholders. The territorial approach is used worldwide in a diversity of situations and sectors, such as
Rural development, Food security and nutrition, Climate change, etc. The main elements of the method
can be useful for entrepreneurs to design meaningful activities and work in the long run:
– Assess material and immaterial resources available on the territory;
– Identify needs, which are not addressed on the territory;
– Based on this, identify potential niches for activities, products or services
– Map stakeholders and resource flows to build alliances and partnerships
Developing projects based on the local needs and the resource/opportunities available on local level,
allows to:
– root and strengthen the projects in the long run,
– keep most of the added-value for the benefit of the area and the local population and avoid
de-localisation.

References
http://lianescooperation.org/wp-content/uploads/Comment-identifier-les-potentialites-economiques-loca
les.pdf (FR)
http://superdoc.aeidl.eu/documents/PUBLICATIONS_AEIDL/LEADER_analyse-besoins_FR.pdf (FR)
http://superdoc.aeidl.eu/documents/PUBLICATIONS_AEIDL/LEADER_analyse-besoins_EN.pdf (EN)
http://www.soletcivilisation.fr/cahier-2-revenir-territoire-developpement/ (FR)
http://www.suaci-alpes.fr/IMG/pdf/Guide_Valor_40_web_1_.pdf (FR)
http://www.aeidl.eu (FR/EN)

Exercise:
– Identifying local needs and possible actions
– Identifying local resources

Submitted by AEIDL