Networks of Support to the Local Development in Brazil

Most of these initiatives were born in spite of the political and economic context, dominated by traditional families and big business. This is a solid alliance dominated by the four media families, the seven construction corporations, the banking families, agribusiness and a few more power clusters, each with solid transnational links and control of politics and government money. The cozy cocoon thus arranged they presently call the market place. These groups usually explain that their riches will gradually trickle down to the mortals down below, so that we must be patient, and not disturb the stability they need. The problem is, what we see is trickling up, so people are looking to other solutions.

The innovative local development initiatives are seldom "anti" anything. They represent very pragmatic responses to basic needs, and these responses are creating an inclusive development culture which is the focus of document. In a way, it's people taking care of themselves.

This paper relies on the knowledge about these experiences, to outline practical ways of supporting and making this trend stronger. When we see simple solutions that are cheap, and work, and contribute to the quality of life of a community, we would like to see these solutions known, and replicated. And we see practical ways to make this happen.

This study focuses here on seven ideas. One is to help communities identify the local potential, or the sleeping resources that can be tapped. Another is the identification of local organization or institutional solutions, centered obviously on community empowerment. It is also trying to network our main research and academic groups, so that instead of making research on how these communities survive, it spends some time on doing the research these communities need. Another useful instrument is to generate local management transparency, so that the communities have more information instruments to fight for their space in the sun. This document also gives some hints on how communities could gain back some control on the use of their savings, presently being channelled to professional speculators. In the line of Ignacy Sachs' studies, and the recent Indian initiatives (Employment Guarantee Act, 2005), this paper is suggesting ways of multiplying some interesting Brazilian experiences, like Mauá and Santos, to expand jobs. Finally, it has some suggestions concerning local communication and media space, an uphill struggle in a strongly cartelized and centralized system.