PACA credentials

PACA combines a number of elements to create an innovative approach to launch and sustain LED initiatives:

• the Systemic Competitiveness concept, in particular its emphasis on the role of actors and of appropriate governance structures,
  
• a variety of elements from strategic management, like the 5 Forces Analysis, and from Michael Porter’s work on localised competitive advantage,
  
• the discussion on market failure and market adjustment as a guiding principle for business promotion,
  
• the Moderation Method, i.e. a communication tool where workshop participants write on cards instead of just talking,
  
• the principles of Participatory Learning & Action on how to conduct rapid yet highly structured research with “optimum ignorance and appropriate imprecision”.

PACA has been introduced to the following countries: Algeria, Armenia, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Laos, Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Serbia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Usbekistan and Vietnam.

PACA emerged from an involvement in local development of local Business Chambers in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. It has been developed by Dr Jörg Meyer-Stamer, a renowned expert on competitiveness, innovation, cluster development and local economic development. For direct access to some of his numerous publications click here.

PACA is constantly being further developed through reflection of practice and conceptual work. This is driven by mesopartner, a consultancy firm specialised in local and regional economic development. Senior partners in mesopartner are

• Shawn Cunningham, formerly with NAMAC and gtz,
  
• Dr Ulrich Harmes-Liedtke, formerly with the University of Bremen and ISA Consult,
  
• Dr Jörg Meyer-Stamer †, formerly with German Development Institute and the University of Duisburg,
  
• Christian Schön, formerly with Dorsch Consult and the Fraunhofer Society,
  
• Frank Wältring, formerly with gtz.

PACA is being developed, applied and disseminated in close cooperation with key customers, in particular with gtz and InWEnt.