Accelerating Shared Growth

What is development -- How does development happen? -- Why are some countries rich and others poor? -- What can be done to accelerate development? -- The evolution of development aid -- Sustainable development -- Globalization and development -- The future of development.

Far reaching macro-economic and structural reforms combined with increases in government spending have been the primary drivers of Tanzania's growth acceleration. As growth in government spending slows, the locomotive for growth will need to shift to increased demand for exports and domestically produced goods, requiring Tanzania to strengthen substantially its international competitiveness, accelerate structural change, and safeguard the environment while maintaining macroeconomic stability. For Tanzania's poor to be able to participate and benefit from important growth, a greater focus on rural development, improved governance of the management of Tanzania's natural resources, and better targeting of social services to the poor is suggested. Successful design and implementation of a shared growth strategy will also require a strengthening of policy management and coordination in Tanzania to ensure that scarce human and financial resources are effectively deployed.

The cover image of a racing yacht in full sail, capturing the power of the wind and crashing through waves, as it accelerates through the ocean, is the best representation of what it is like to accelerate company growth. To go this fast, you need to have a great team who know what they are doing and who work in perfect harmony, under the leadership of a great captain, who makes the right decisions on what direction to go and the sails to use for the wind conditions, currents, waves and all the other elements that are thrown at you by the unpredictable environment. When you get everything right, the excitement and adrenalin rush that comes from the acceleration, as you ride and crash through waves under your own power, is invigorating - just like accelerating the growth of your company. Throughout ACCELERATING COMPANY GROWTH, Brendan Dowling shares practical advice and stories, based on his own experience, which will help you to accelerate the growth of your business. Section 1 covers the pre-requisites for accelerating company growth: motivation, leadership, vision and strategy. Section 2 covers the key areas that drive company growth, giving you advice and tips from my own experience: your elevator pitch; value proposition; market; the customer's problem and your solution; marketing; sales; business model; competitors; team/people; finances; and operations. At the end of each of these chapters, Brendan shows how to complete a slide for your Accelerated Growth Plan that covers all the points critical to having a document that forms the blueprint for your company's growth. Finally Section 3 looks at other topics that are important contributors to accelerated company growth: how to use your board of directors; working with venture capital funding; selling your company; and business ethics. Appendix 1 includes a slide deck template that you can use to form the basis of your own Accelerated Growth Plan, while Appendix 2 shows a sample slide deck for a fictitious company, Nautique2 - based on Brendan's first business, Nautique, as if he were starting it again from scratch today.

The 2007 Global Monitoring Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) assesses the contributions of developing countries, developed countries, and international financial institutions toward meeting universally agreed development commitments. Fourth in a series of annual reports leading up to 2015, this year's report reviews key developments of the past year, emerging priorities, and provides a detailed region-by-region picture of performance in the developing regions of the world, drawing on indicators for poverty, education, gender equality, health, and other goals. Subtitled "Confronting the Challenges of Gender Equality and Fragile States," this year's report highlights two key thematic areas-gender equality and empowerment of women (the third MDG) and the special problems of fragile states, where extreme poverty is increasingly concentrated. The report, which is jointly issued by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, argues that gender equality and the empowerment of women are central to the development agenda. This is because gender equality makes good economic sense and because it helps advance the other development goals-including education, nutrition, and reducing child mortality. Rapid progress has been made in some areas, such as achieving educational parity for girls in primary and secondary school in most countries. But in many other dimensions-including political representation and participation in nonagricultural employment-performance still falls short. Better monitoring and efforts at mainstreaming gender equality requires realistic goals, strong leadership, technical expertise, and financing.

Policy makers recognize that developing capacity for knowledge and technology driven growth is necessary for Swaziland to integrate into the global economy and to be competitive; in particular because Swaziland is not rich in exploitable natural resources. The Education Training and Skills Development Sector (ETSDS), the educational sector of Swaziland s long-term development and reform program, covers all levels of education, from early childhood to post-secondary education. This paper evaluates the adequacy of the ETSDS in light of the enhanced educational goal for the country. Acknowledging that financing reforms will be a challenge, this paper makes recommendations to enhance the program s effectiveness, such as expanding access, strengthening delivery modes, and minimizing financial barriers to education and training.

“This book is about accelerating Africa’s integration through the application of the growth triangle concept. Filled with rich experiences backed by research, this book is also a powerful account of how African countries’ border areas---many of which largely marginalized and clash points of conflicts---can be transformed into vibrant socio-economic security zones through local-regional development efforts. This book equally creates a necessary kind of working environment where micro-regionalism is given a significant role to play in addressing some of the protracted challenges associated with our continent’s “larger” groupings. A valuable piece of work and absolutely required reading for all of us (politicians, academics private sector, development practitioners, NGOS)”

“Much has changed in Africa and in African studies . . . but one constant has been the enduring excellence of the anthology Africa.” —International Journal of African Historical Studies Since the publication of the first edition in 1977, Africa has established itself as a leading resource for teaching, business, and scholarship. This fourth edition has been completely revised and focuses on the dynamism and diversity of today’s Africa. The latest volume emphasizes contemporary culture–civil and social issues, art, religion, and the political scene–and provides an overview of significant themes that bear on Africa’s place in the world. Historically grounded, Africa provides a comprehensive view of the ways that African women and men have constructed their lives and engaged in collective activities at the local, national, and global levels. “From all indications, the fourth edition of Africa should not only endure the test of time, but also be found exceptionally useful by a wide spectrum of scholars, including college professors and their students in general.” —Africa Today