Local economic development and poverty reduction in developing societies: The experience of the ILO decent work project in Ghana
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Local Economy
Abstract
There have been a series of contest analyses of the developmental role of international development
partners in sub-Saharan Africa. However, evidence abounds that while international development
partners have over the past three decades participated actively in local economic development
the academic literature has barely focused on this area. As a result, very little is known about how
development partners-led local economic development has translated into poverty reduction and
economic prosperity. Through a qualitative case study of the ILO decent work project in Ghana, this
study provides an empirical assessment and impact of development partners’ role in conceptualizing,
implementing, and monitoring local economic development interventions in sub-Saharan Africa.
The findings show that ILO decent work project has led to the creation of jobs, enabled
participants to improve their businesses, improve their economic situation, and meet their
health needs and also adopt strategies to pull themselves out of poverty. The outcome of this
paper is useful for both national and international development agencies in their attempt to
improve societal development.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
developing societies, Ghana, local economic development, poverty reduction