Hundreds of representatives from government, multilateral institutions, NGOs, academia and the private sector gathered this week in Gaborone, Botswana for the 2014 Annual Democracy Forum.
This year’s theme “Fostering Democracy and Development through Sound Management of Natural Resources” provided delegates with an opportunity to share their views on how to strike a sustainable and equitable balance in resource-rich democracies.
As Devex Associate Editor Richard Jones explains in the above video report from the two-day conference, areas for discussion included how to overcome issues and challenges in the sector, the role of legal frameworks and international standards for natural resources management, and how to democratize development through shared stakeholder responsibility.
The forum was co-organized by the government of Botswana and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, a Stockholm-based nonprofit focused on policy development, analysis and support for global democracy that argues that resource-rich nations often struggle to realize their economic growth potential and make that growth inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
Stay tuned for #DemocracyMatters, an upcoming campaign by Devex and International IDEA. Throughout December we will bring you exclusive coverage, interviews and guest commentary on democracy, development and the sound management of natural resources.
Watch more international development news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive the latest from the world’s leading donors and decision-makers — emailed to you FREE every business day.
