MBDA hosts follow-up Think Tank Colloquium to formulate alternative approaches to development in challenged communities such as Helenvale

The Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) today kicked off the second Think Tank Colloquium to discuss and formulate alternative approaches to sustainable socioeconomic development in challenged communities such as Helenvale.

MBDA CEO Ashraf Adam says: "The first Think Tank Colloquium held in February took on a process of scenario building informed by conversations and dialogues constituted primarily by academia, specialists and development practitioners. The meeting gave significant focus to the most challenging issues facing the community, long-term interventions in combination with short-term quick responses and actions.

"The second Think Tank Colloquium, which kicked off today, is constituted largely by community leaders to build on the work done in February, to formulate solutions for the future of Helenvale. The scenarios and strategies to be formulated must make sense, foster internal consistency, be robust and informed by evidence-based research, experiences, intuitive logic as well as supported by expert opinions.

"The risks associated with the identified scenarios and strategies will be determined and appropriate mitigation measures will be formulated. The final outcomes and recommendations of the two-day meeting will inform the plans and programmes of the MBDA into the new financial year, starting in July 2018," concludes Adam.

Members of the media are welcome to join the proceedings from Friday 25 May at the Grand Hotel, when discussions and the formulating of alternative sustainable solutions for Helenvale and many other similar communities in South Africa will take place.

Details

Venue: The Grand Hotel, Belmont Terrace and John Kani (old Whites Road)Time: 8:30amDate: 24-25 May 2018RSVP: [email protected]