Contact me. I will share my experiences with you.
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One of the conditions for developing a good strategy is to listen to residents and entrepreneurs, especially leaders and decision-makers.
I don’t just develop city development strategies. Mayors also let me review their projects. I’ve done two recently. The idea is that I find their imperfections, the authorities correct them and the strategy becomes better – for residents, business and the environment.
A draft amendment to the *Environment Protection Law* has just been submitted to the Polish Parliament, obliging the authorities of all 2477 communes to set not only social, economic and spatial strategic goals in their strategies, but also “climate and environmental” ones!
Roseto is a small city in the USA (PA) that surprised scientists in the 20th century. The mortality rate of its inhabitants, Italian migrants, was approximately 1/3 lower than the average. This phenomenon could not be explained for a long time.
The recent amendment to one of Polish legal acts determined that the MASTERPLAN takes into account in particular the spatial policy of the commune specified in the commune’s development strategy or the supra-local development strategy of communes.
As part of my travels in search of local development and inspirations for local & regional governments, I had the honor and pleasure of talking about Maltese local governments with the Acting President of Malta Prof. Frank Bezzina and with the Director General for Local Government in the Office of the Prime Minister of Malta, Natalino Attard
A lot is happening in politics, law, economy, technology, society, environment, etc. How can you find your way in this with your commune/city? What its development strategy you should develop, adapt and implement?
There are few things only that can teach you as much as a solid, but well-thought-out failure! This also applies to strategic governance of the cities’ & communes’ development.
The Development Strategy of the Dobrzyniewo Duże Commune for 2023-2033, prepared by me, was adopted unanimously. I also prepared the previous one, and within its framework the authorities and employees of the commune managed to achieve a lot.
As many as several dozen professors and doctoral students came to my lecture at Manisa Celal Bayar University. Self-government is also a hot topic in Turkey, so current Polish reforms in the field of development strategies of communes are of great interest here.
A quarter of a century of work on city/commune development strategies and hundreds of training courses I have given on this subject tell me one thing. Poland needs thousands of highly qualified and motivated local authorities and self-government managers.
So it happened! Yesterday, the President of Poland signed an act that not only revolutionizes our spatial planning, but also gives a superior role to commune development strategy (we have 2477 communes), making it mandatory soon.
The book I reviewed for AOSIS Scholarly Books describes the methods of promoting sustainable economic development used by South African local authorities.
This is Aizhana Kazybayeva, a PhD student at Almaty Management University, Almaty, Kazakhstan and a graduate of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management, Sejong, South Korea. She won a grant of Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange to come to me for a month-long internship at the Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, Poland
You can like the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher or not. However, this great novel by A. Sapkowski is definitely worth reading. And in Polish City of Ostrołęka they went even further.
When building a commune development strategy, it is necessary to talk to the inhabitants, including young people and seniors. However, it must be a thorough, honest and well-prepared conversation.
This is Megna Kalvani, PhD student at SP Jain School of Global Management. He came from Dubai to learn on development strategies of Polish communes.
The new law on commune development strategy raises the expectations bar high for the Polish local authorities and senior management. However, it also gives them a chance to improve their governance style, which will be all to the good for residents, businesses and the environment, as well as for themselves.
This is João Paulo Moreira Silva, PhD student at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte. He came from Brazil to learn on development strategies of Polish communes
I stayed in Compton for a week. It has industry, but is known for crime and rap. According to the FBI, in 2010 it was the 8th most dangerous city in the USA.
Local development has many faces and can be stimulated in many ways. Exploring what it looks like in other countries is a fascinating acitivity. That is why I travel to meet authorities, entrepreneurs and scientists show me how they stimulate local development and what results they get. Such “travels in search of local development and inspirations for local & regional governments” broaden my knowledge. Thanks to this, the works I prepare for Polish local governments are more creative and innovative, as well as the training and lectures more interesting.
One of the benefits I gained thanks to travels is my book entitled “Supra-local perspective of local development strategic governance on the example of small towns“. These trips made me realize how much national, continental and global factors, e.g. technologies, cultures, corporations, energy sources, state authorities, climate change, et al. have an impact on local development. Without these travels, this book would never have been written.
In addition, trips are an opportunity for me to meet unique, interesting people, achieving successes and strongly involved in public affairs. Contact with their energy, knowledge, ideas and experiences is a great value for me and motivates me to work. Sometimes I establish permanent relationships with them, which I use in scientific work.
Examples of my travels and meetings:
City Hall of São Paulo, Brazil
It serves 20 million inhabitants. City authorities use modern strategic governance methods and innovative smart city techniques. Meeting with Director Rubens Rizek Jr. and office staff.
Siyakhana Food Garden, South Africa
This urban garden in Johannesburg constitutes urban agriculture. It gives work and healthy food, supports entrepreneurship and city revitalization, reduces social problems. Meeting with director Prof. M. Rudolph.
Coffee&Cocoa Science Park, Indonesia
This science and technology park conducts research on innovative coffee crops and promotes sustainable agriculture as local development factor. Meeting with prof. Rachmat Hidayat, a researcher of these issues.
Algeti village, Georgia
The commune basing its local development on the production of traditional Georgian food and its roadside sales on the international road E60. Meeting with residents, bread and wine producers.
Kawada Nextage Nagoya, Japan
This company produces robots to work with people in their small, traditional companies – cafes, shops, workshops, etc. Robotization does not have to be an enemy of local development. Meeting with engineers.
Mochi Bazaar Jodhpur, India
A typical Indian bazaar full of local products, local culture and local buyers – creating local development. Never “conquered”, despite attempts, by globalized large-scale trade. Meeting with merchants.
City Hall of Varaždin, Croatia
It is a city of successful, architectural and economic revitalization of its historic center. An example of local development based on the multi-use historic buildings. Meeting with the mayor and councilors.
Hualapai Indian Reserve, USA
The area of many attempts to stimulate local develop- ment, but without good results, apart from tourism. Desert climate, lack of resources, social problems and the law bother. Meeting with local entrepreneurs.
St. Monica Primary School, Tanzania
Primary school – the result of the work of the local community and foreign volunteers. It gives education to children from poor families. Observations of very good lessons, conducted in very difficult conditions.
Biz @ Shaolin Monastery, China
The legend of the Shaolin Monastery used by many companies teaching martial arts on a mass scale. Unsustainable, fast growth of the local economy. Observations of commercialization of local culture.
World Expo 2020, Dubai, UAE
Visits to pavilions of countries promoting the idea of local development as part of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Studies of local solutions constituting alternatives to global systems.
Castle Baynard ward, London, UK
Castle Baynard – the financial and historical center of London. Observations of the effects of local socio-urban revitalization and efforts to integrate immigrant communities.
Philharmonic in village, Azores, PT
A visit to the philharmonic in the village of Algarvia, São Miguel island, Atlantic Ocean. It is 145 years old, not targeting tourists & stimulates local human, social, cultural and capital. Research how is it possible.
Abandoned city of Cisco, USA
Cisco is a city in Utah, abandoned by its inhabitants. The last 4 are trying to revive them. Research into the causes of the fall and analysis of opportunities and possible strategies for rebirth.
St. Nicholas Square, Siggiewi, Malta
St. Nicholas Square in the town of Siggiewi, Malta, is (dating back to the Neolith) place of integration and activation of inhabitants, and even their protection in its underground. Visit with the city mayor.
Manisa: satellite of Izmir, Turkey
Manisa is a unique example of an industrial boom thanks to its proximity to Izmir’s international communication infrastructure and the region’s fertile fields. Visiting its business zones.