POLICY OBJECTIVES In pursuit of this vision, GISED has the following policy objectives: Partnership: Fostering strategic partnerships with governments, multi and bilateral agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and the civil society. Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Facilitating entrepreneurial and innovative approaches and taking calculated risks in the design and implementation of sustainable strategic economic development programs and social empowerment projects. Capacity Development: Supporting the strengthening of government, educational and non-governmental organizations, and the civil society to respond rapidly to the comprehensive strategic needs. Education & Research: Enabling entrepreneurial partnerships with educational institutions, the private sector and community organizations, contributing to inventive methodologies through well funded research and implementation in the society. Ownership & Participation: Ensuring that GISED supported programs and projects are nationally owned and implemented, securing local commitment through the participation of the local population at all levels, and a strengthened civil society. Fiscal Responsibity: Ensuring that the decision-making responsibilities and accountability are entrusted to partnerships of private and pubic institutions involved in the specific project, including the citizen benefactors. Sustainability: Ensuring that all programs and projects have a plan of action setting out the steps towards attaining sustainability, including an exit strategy for GISED. Policy impact: Working closely with governments and other partners to promote policy changes in favor of improved local governance, decentralization and enabling a sustainable development environment.