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Statistics
r.
4. r.
THE BAHA’I’ WORLD 2003—2004
Geogmphic Distribution of Local Spiritual Assemblies by Continent
Asia 2,186
Americas 1,741
Australasia 777
‘ {w J Europe 860 ‘9'
Africa 3.067
Number of National and Regional Spiritual Assemblies
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STATISTICS 2.43
Social and Economic Development
Bahé’l development activities are initiated either by individuals or groups ofbelievers or by Bahé'f administrative institutions. Together, these activities contribute to a global process of learning about a Bahéi I' approach to social and economic development. They presently fall tnto three general categories.
ACTIVITIES OF FIXED DURATION
Most Bahé'f social and economic development efi‘orts are fairiy simple activities of fixed duration in which Bahfi’fs around the world address the problems and challenges faced by their localities through the applimtion ofspiritual principles. These activities either originate in the Bath“ communities themselves or represent responses to invi— tations from other organizations. It is estimated that in 2003—2004 there were several thousand endeavors of this kind. including clean— up projects. health camps and the provision ofvarious other types of services. workshops and seminars on such themes as race unity and the advancement of women, and short—term training courses.
SUSTAINED PROJECTS
The second category of Bahé’i' social and economic development consists of approximately 550 ongoing projects. The vast majority are academic and tutorial schools, while others focus on areas such as literacy. basic health care, moral education, child care, agriculture, the environment. and microenterprise. Some of these projects are administered by nascent development organizations, which have the potential to grow in complexity and in their range of influence.
ORGANIZATIONS WITH CAPACITY
T0 UNDERTAKE COMPLEX ACTION
Certain Bahé’i development efforts have evolved into development organizations with relatively complex programmatic structures and significant spheres of influence. They systematically train human resources and manage a number of lines of action to address problems oflocal communities and regions in a coordinated. interdisciplinary manner. Also included in this category are several institutions— especially large schools—which, although focusing only on one field,
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244 THE BAHA’I WORLD 2003—2004
have the potential to make a significant impact. In this category there are currently 45 such organizations.
