The voices of the poor are calling for the creation of new local-global links so that local people and their own organizations can influence development. The poor want to move from being decision takers to being decision makers. Goal Local-global links require the establishment of channels by which information on local priorities and needs can flow up while technical assistance and resources flow down. Agents and intermediaries need to be identified to carry information to and from grassroots membership-based organizations and senior policy makers in government, private sector, NGOs, and multilaterals. Forward Today there are new opportunities and modalities that can help poor people connect globally, as well as within and among their communities to better address their needs and various options for solutions.
Poor people know best their problems and priorities.
Despite their limited power, they exercise leadership and organize to overcome their problems, and these initiatives sometimes give rise to social movements for change. Moreover, the poor have valuable resources and assets. But the knowledge, ideas, options, leadership, and resources at the local level are not connected - either to those of other poor people or to the larger global community. And the knowledge, ideas and resources available at the global level cannot reach or connect with the struggles of poor people. The challenge is to try to close these gaps so that poor people's knowledge, ideas, and leadership inform global decision-making, and at the same time global resources and knowledge support poor people's initiatives at the local level.