Community development and micro-enterprises: Fostering sustainable development

Micro-enterprise efforts have focused mainly on economic development, altho ugh ignoring the social and environmental consequences can jeopardize succe ss. This essay examines the characteristics of successful groups and the ba rriers they face. The lessons learned from successful micro-enterprises sug gest that the key is to bring together the elements of sustainable developm ent with the importance of the key fact that the micro-enterprises are comm unity based. The thesis proposed is that micro-enterprises can foster susta inable development if, and only if, they are integrated in a view of commun ity development that links the social, economic and environmental dimension s. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.