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• Entrepreneurs – key

element of development process DEfinition – identify community characteristics/needs

• Solution: the Opportunity 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 SmochinaContact: ana_smochina@yahoo.com

*Addenda

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