Market forces are the most powerful generator of economic wealth but they alone cannot be relied upon to deliver social and economic objectives. Objectives such as protecting the poor and vulnerable, or preserving a region’s unique characteristics require planning and management in order to be achieved.

WYG International has facilitated integrated social and economic development working at small community or village level, at municipality level and at regional level. For example, we have worked with small village communities whose agricultural livelihoods have been devastated by radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl disaster.

WYG International is also working with large regions in Ukraine, where the old industrial base of coal and heavy industry is now largely uneconomic. Strategies are required to enable the region to regain its former (relatively) prosperous status, so creating jobs and the tax base to pay for social services.

In many regions where we are working, HIV/AIDS adds greatly to the problems of development.

WYG International's approach always relies upon participation and partnership, bringing together government, the private sector and civil society organisations. This often results in new structures to assist development: regional development agencies, free trade zones or partnership committees.