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Governance The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put "governance" means: the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local governance. Since governance is the process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis of governance focuses on the formal and informal participants involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision. What Is Good Governance? Good governance has 8 major characteristics:
It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Good governance is an ideal that is difficult to achieve. Very few countries or societies have come close to achieving good governance in its totality. However, to ensure sustainable human development, actions must be taken to work towards this ideal with the aim of making it a reality. What Does The SomerVille EcovillageTM Governance Model Need To Do? The SomerVille Governance model serves as a tool for the community to evaluate where we are versus where we want to be. It is a mechanism through which we can articulate our future, manage the present and recognise the past. Operating a successful eco-village requires a balance of activities. Without a governance system the ideals, visions, goals and harmony espoused by SomerVille EcovillageTM could be seriously compromised. SomerVille Vision Statement "A vibrant village where community flourishes, in which every person is supported and contributes in balance with a sustainable ecological ethic." To date the Vision statement has been a beacon for how we interrelate and operate as a community. It is the source document in determining “The SomerVille Visions” and “Creating Healthy Community Visions”. These visions act as guidelines for determining and implementing an appropriate governance model. A Snapshot of Governance Now 1. Start with an idea, generated from:
2. Carry out research, ask questions, planning – Greenedge Projects. 3. Test idea with the Steering Team – Greenedge Projects. 4. Informal testing of findings by tapping into the wisdom of the crowd through core groups and some community members. 5. More research; compile a plan or brief – Greenedge Projects. 6. Formal testing of the findings: surveys; community consultation and feedback – Greenedge Projects. 7. Analyse the input and adjust the plan – Greenedge Projects and Steering Team. 8. If no changes need to be made continue to step 9 otherwise return to step 6. 9. Close the loop and implement findings – Greenedge Projects.
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