Public-Private Dialogue on Local Level

BDC concept

The stimulation of dialogue between the private and public sector as means to support Local Economic Development (LED) and improvement of the business environment is one of the tasks that the EoPSD has taken up. So far there are few examples where this dialogue is institutionalised on local level. The promotion of "Business Development Committees" (BDCs) is an attempt to encourage and support this dialogue.

BDCs consist of representatives of the private and public sectors and civil society. They are made up of change agents who mobilize the population and stimulate dialogue and activities related to private sector development in the respective localities.

EoPSD's role

The EoPSD supports the BDCs through Development Agents - young professionals living in the area who are well embedded in the social fabric. They facilitate the link between the different interest groups in the Local Government Area (LGA). Further EoPSD assists through a variety of capacity building interventions which result in the selection of members for the BDC, the development of vision and mission statements, the identification and strategizing of BDC activities. The Programme's support is complemented by providing possibilities for exchange between the various BDC on topics of common interest.

BDC activities

The BDCs' work-plans depend on the needs, potentials and resources in each LGA. The activities therefore vary from one BDC to the other. Resources for the operation of BDCs are generated from within the Local Government, both from the private and the public side. Currently 17 BDCs operate in Niger and Nasarawa States. Their activities include:

  • advocacy measures to improve the business environment (e.g. improvement of electricity situation and market infrastructure, transparency of taxation),
  • conflict mediation (e.g. resolution of conflicts within business associations),
  • linkage of local businesses to business service providers (e.g. to provide access to finance or skills upgrading).

BDC success: mediation between marketers & LG

The BDC in Wamba successfully facilitated between the marketers and the Local Government (LG): Market sellers were unsatisfied with the cleanliness of the market and condition of the stalls. As a reaction they refused to pay the revenue and sanitation levies to the LG who owns the market.

The BDC raised this issue with the LG which - in the course of several meetings - acknowledged the problem. The LG is now renovating the market stalls and gets the market place regularly swept. In return the marketers now pay their revenue and sanitation levies. The BDC successfully used its advocacy role and facilitated between the different stakeholders.