The 14th PASCAL Conference - and the first in South Africa - brought stakeholders, practitioners and academics together for three days of productive, intensive discussions and presentations.

Coming at a critical time in the political and economic development of South Africa, the Conference highlighted how much can be done in the absence of coherent, sustained leadership; or put another way, why the development of civil society and partnership are so important. Academic papers and case studies illuminated many fascinating insights into what works at the local level, raising questions about how to roll out and expand community initiatives.

Entrepreneurship - both in the normative economic sense of small firm creation and growth, and in the wider meaning whenever individuals take responsibility to get something done - became a major theme, as did the interplay between technology and its practical application. The summaries and conclusions bear close attention.

Our deep appreciation and warm thanks go to Enrico Jacobs, Marius Venter, and Jannie Zaaiman.