Local development and decolonial futures: building blocks for people- and place-based development

This study addresses the limitations of economy-centred development models and proposes the foundations of an alternative approach inspired by decolonial thinking and the capability approach. This model emphasises the recognition of individual and collective capabilities and the autonomy of communities to shape the future of their territories. Drawing on the experiences of civic organisations (COs) in Caldas, Colombia, we illustrate how local practices inform and strengthen this perspective. These organisations contest planning decisions, promote education on urban planning and participatory mechanisms, and enhance the transformative potential of citizen engagement to address socio-economic and environmental concerns. The paper contributes to debates on how to recentre agency and plural values to create more just, sustainable and context-sensitive solutions to local development challenges.