What is Community Economic Development?
Many Rivers Community Economic Development (CED) provides support to regional and remote Indigenous communities that want to establish or grow economic activity on their land. Together we step through what is required for a community to strengthen its understanding, planning, leadership, and organisation to actively participate in the Australian economy and be local leaders in the community’s future direction and prosperity.
How does it work?
Many Rivers CED works closely with the elected board and management of a community organisation that represents the interests and welfare of the community. Community organisations can be in the form of Aboriginal Corporations, Land Councils, Land Trusts and other incorporated bodies.
Support is provided through CED Managers who work with a community for 5 years (on average). Spending timely regularly and consistently, typically 2-4 days a month in the community with regular communication in-between, to understand strengths, weaknesses, challenges, goals and the context that the community experiences. The intention of the program is for each community to become increasingly capable of independently governing and managing its chosen goals, plans, community and economic activities, over time no longer needing extensive support. To achieve this, CED works within a proven framework that builds the capabilities and capacities necessary for long-term and sustainable economic management.
Every community has its own history, culture, strengths, challenges and goals. To be relevant to each community, the CED program is not a rigid process but a framework that incorporates Many Rivers’ principles of sustainable economic development. These being;
- trusted relationships,
- responsible, recognised and confident governance and management,
- an operating platform that works and is resourced,
- viable economic opportunity, including businesses and employment,
- decision makers that are informed and participating,
- good planning that is sustainable and achievable, and;
- practical application of plans undertaken with the community not for the community.
