Slower but more stable growth path appropriate strategy for North: report

Feb 22, 2019 (LBO) – An economic growth path that is slower but more stable which invests in communities to strengthen the social foundations for development has been proposed as an appropriate strategy for the North by a newly launched report.

The report titled “Economic Development Framework for a Northern Province Master Plan” suggests a two-pronged strategy on strengthening the economic base while supporting initiatives for export development.



Focus of new development model:  invest capital appropriately into existing and new small-scale producers and industries to begin the process of productivity improvement  be labour-intensive to get as many people into safe, secure and regular work as possible  make extensive use of the large endowments of land and natural resources and essentially be agriculturally-led  support medium-term efforts for those able to take greater risks and move into higher value markets including exports  be dispersed fairly across the Province and among the different population groups to ensure regional and gender disparities are reduced. The formation of a Northern Planning Bureau is also recommended to undertake long-term planning and coordination informed by the unmet specific needs of a war-torn society.

Such needs include securing long-term development financing, labour market expansion, natural resource management and monitoring of development outcomes.

The report was written by an independent committee of academics and professionals from the North.



It identifies priorities for policy design, including a Master Plan for the economic development over the next decade.

Full report is reproduced below. Economic Development Framework NP-English