Mission Statement

GP Connect is a multi-national initiative that links private, public, and social sectors to promote cross cultural approaches to community driven development. We identify, equip, and empower community leaders and social entrepreneurs who are the driving force in local communities and support them in developing creative solutions to local problems.

In Africa, Asia and Latin America, GP Connect works with specific communities to establish models of development based on local resources. This approach, which is often referred to as community driven development (CDD), treats communities and their institutions as assets and partners in the search for solutions to their development challenges. The emphasis is on community involvement and leadership.

While many NGOs are engaged in development initiatives, they often find that their local staff members tend to be so busy with current and upcoming projects that they have little time for the research, analysis, reporting, reviewing, and long-term planning that are an essential part of community development. While partners such as Service For Peace focus on the actual implementation of CDD projects, GP Connect processes information, conducts research and provides resources and insights for the projects.  GP Connect then uses the emerging models to promote CDD as an effective approach to development.

A Global Network of Social Entrepreneurs

GP Connect defines a social entrepreneur as someone who recognizes a social problem and uses entrepreneurial principles to create and manage a venture to make social change. We believe that  social entrepreneurs can act as peace builders while using innovative approaches to bring people with common interests together to address common challenges. GP Connect uses social media and other approaches to reach and build a global “networld” of social entrepreneurs who can share and discuss their ideas and solutions.