Community & Civic Engagement: Prerequisite for  Fostering Sustainable Development in the Developing World

Brazilian School of Business and Public Administration (FGV – Rio de Janeiro / Brazil)
June 28-29, 2018

Current development discourses underscore the relevance of exploring the interplay between sustainable development and democratic governance. Such discourses are premised on the fact that it is impossible to foster sustainable development without the active involvement of all social, political, economic and/or private development stakeholders in the decision-making process geared toward designing, implementing, and evaluating sustainable development strategies. Citizen involvement in governance is not a new idea. Citizens participation in the decision making process helps build trust in themselves and build competence, thus strengthening the social capital which is critical for healthy and sustainable communities. 

Moreover, it is argued that public engagement in decision-making promotes government accountability, a friendly business environment, and public trust in government institutions. While trust in government is essential for social cohesion and well-being, it is indispensable for citizens to demand greater transparency from their governments and to hold elected officials accountable. Greater transparency is not only key to upholding integrity in the public sector, but also to foster openness and transparency which can ultimately reduce the risk of fraud, corruption and mismanagement of public funds.

The purpose of the 4th International Conference on Democratic Governance is to explore the various dimensions – political, economic, social, spiritual, and cultural – needed to advance and sustain democratic governance in the developing world. Specifically, the conference will bring together an international group of scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines (e.g., public administration, political science, economics, sociology, business, law, journalism, international relations, and others) to collectively examine the extent to which community and civic engagement can foster sustainable development. In their papers, conference participants can address numerous themes and issues.

Conference Sponsor and Supporters
This conference is being organized and financially sponsored by 

• Revista de Administração Pública (RAP FGV) 
• FGV EBAPE 
• UFV
• SBAP
• Capes
• Rwanda Governance Board 

Conference Venue
The conference will take place at the Brazilian School of Business and Public Administration (FGV – Rio de Janeiro / Brazil). 

Contacts: 
Alketa Peci
alketa.peci@fgv.br

Marco Aurelio Marques Ferreira
marcoaurelio@ufv.br

FGV EBAPE: Rua Jornalista Orlando Dantas, 30 – Botafogo / Rio de Janeiro – RJ / Brazil
Phone: +55 (21)  3083-2731