WELCOME TO THE COMPAS WEBSITE

COMPAS (comparing and supporting endogenous development) is an international network implementing field programmes to develop, test and improve endogenous development (ED) methodologies. Endogenous development is based on local peoples' own criteria of development, and takes into account the material, social and spiritual well-being of peoples.

The COMPAS programme is coordinated by the ETC Foundation in the Netherlands

ENDOGENOUS DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE 5

Traditional leaders and indigenous organisations continue to play an important role in many societies around the world. Decisions in agriculture, health or conflict resolution are often taken under the guidance of traditional authorities. But in what way can we understand how traditional leadership functions and how this relates to their way of seeing the world? The COMPAS network believes it is important to understand these matters to be able to support traditional authorities so they can assume developmental roles, for example in conserving natural resources.
ENDOGENOUS DEVELOPMENT MAGAZINE 5, AVAILABLE NOW, for download click here

ALLIANCE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN AFRICA

AFSA was founded on 25 November 2009 to represent small holder farmers, pastoralists, hunter/gatherers and indigenous peoples in Africa. AFSA believes that the current African government practices do not go far enough to protecting Africa's food sovereignty, biodiversity and the culture and livelihoods of her people. The declaration, signed in the presence of the President of Ethiopia, urges African leaders to champion small African family farming systems and protect the rights of African people to indigenous seeds, plant and animal genetic resources.
Download declaration.

INTERNATIONAL HEALERS' CONFERENCE

In November 2009 COMPAS and its Indian partner FRLHT organised a international healers' exchange on traditional medicine (15 traditional health practitioners from 9 countries visited around 100 traditional health practitioners in the Indian states). Immediately afterwards an international conference was held in Bangalore. The conference culminated in a Declaration calling on all governments to legalise traditional health care systems and integrate them into official national health care systems.

For more information, please visit: www.healersexchange.org