Section Six: Balanced Development explains how to plan for and share the dividends of economic development equitably to all groups, locations, and sections of society. Of particular importance to achieving balanced development are urban-rural linkages, public-private collaboration, public finance accountability and transparency, and stakeholder engagement. Also important are infrastructural development, economic integration, and support for rural development efforts. Transitioning to renewable energy sources, adopting sustainable agricultural and forestry practices, implementing effective waste management and recycling strategies, conserving and restoring ecosystems, incorporating environmental considerations into economic development plans, mitigating the effects of climate change, and fostering collaboration and stakeholder engagement for sustainable resource management are all key points.
Prof. Uwem Essia holds a Ph.D. degree in Economics from the University of Calabar, Nigeria. He taught Development Theory and Planning at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for more than 2 decades and has written extensively on economic development and planning and other aspects of economics, management, and the social sciences.