It follows that, where committed resources are not achieving set objects, there is therefore, the need to re-examine economic development theories and models, how they have been applied, and why they have failed to achieve set objectives. This is with the view to modifying them in congruous with local cultures and environment.

Since E-AMARC understand that the engine of sustainable growth, structural transformation and development in any given society resides in the people and their cultures, it becomes obvious that the basis for economic policy formulation and implementation will remain deficient and ineffective unless there are supportive cultural research data. To this end, E-AMARC was established to undertake cultural research needed to provide the supporting cultural input for socioeconomic and political policy formulation and implementation.

An Executive Director who is assisted by a number of Academics and Senior Research Fellows manages the day to day activities of E-AMARC. Research Associates, Research Assistants and Young Professionals with multidisciplinary academic background support the Senior Research Fellows who are involved mainly in research and consultancy programs.

CONCEPTS

E-AMARC research, training and consulting activities are designed to provide the needed cultural research data necessary for businesses, entrepreneurship, appropriate management and sustainable economic, political and social development to private and public organizations and institutions worldwide. E-AMARC has created the necessary environment for intellectual interaction that provide balance of practical realities among academics, entrepreneurs, managers, development experts, politicians, and policy-makers.

OBJECTIVES

E-AMARC objective is to provide the needed cultural research data for economic development to public and private organizations; Universities and Business Institutions, Profit-Making Businesses, Small Business Enterprises (Entrepreneurs), Local and International NGO's, with the aim to improve their appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.Specifically, E-AMARC was established to:

1. undertake, promote and coordinate cross-cultural studies and research on the effects of cultural values on management processes, practices and economic development in Africa;
2. organize scientific meetings, seminars and in-service training programs for high-level officials of public and private sectors within the African economies;
3. design appropriate courses that incorporate the relevance of culture dimensions for management and business to Universities and other such institutions training managers and administrators in Africa;
4. create data-bank for "growth-positive" and "growth-negative" culture-based factors for economic and social development and serve as resource center for cultural dimensions to businesses, entrepreneurship, management and indigenous development in Africa;
5. improve top level public and private sector management awareness of cultures as a means of promoting more sustainable development to ensure better policy-making, implementation and management.

To articulate the objectives of E-AMARC, various training, research and consultancy programs have been designed and set up. Within this, E-AMARC provide highly specialized training and consultancy services geared towards managerial and organizational problems and policy implementation as they occur in socio-economic development at national and sub-national levels. Also, E-AMARC offer research, training and consultancy facilities to African scholars and students through its partners and collaborating institutions in Africa and Europe and also at its Research Centre in Maastricht.

APPLIED RESEARCH AND CONSULTING

To further enhance its role in applied research, E-AMARC has created a division fully engaged in cultures and policy-oriented research, training and consultancy issues. Among other activities, the division focuses its attention on economic and social research; policy analysis, technical assistance to agencies involved in development issues in Africa and policy research seminars that seek to maximize interaction between policy-makers and policy-researchers in Africa.

As a laboratory for Culture Dimensions to Entrepreneurship, Business, Appropriate Management and Indigenous Development in Africa, E-AMARC contribute its cultural inputs to policy formulation and implementation to the public and private sectors, through publication and dissemination of its Research, Consulting and Seminar reports.

Organizations and Institutions needing information on the effects of Cultures on Business, Entrepreneurship, Management and Indigenous Development in any African or European society can take advantage of E-AMARC Research and Development programs in several ways: E-AMARC research members can provide research assistance by conducting primary or secondary research to the organization's or institutions specifications. Alternatively, the organization can work directly with E-AMARC within the specified area of research and training to meet the individual organizational or institutional needs.

E-AMARC RESOURCE CAPACITY

E-AMARC staff members and associates have disciplinary background in applied and social sciences, and share an interest in and concern for public and private sector policy management. All members of staff seek to combine closeness to the world of practice with critical insights from the world of theory and scholarship. Our qualifications, special interest and experience can be obtained from the individual's personal files. We can also draw upon the insights and services of colleagues in the Universities and upon partners with other institutions in any country of our clients.

E-AMARC PARTNERSHIP CENTRES IN AFRICA

In Partnership Agreement with the University of Nairobi, University of Zimbabwe and Zanzibar University, E-AMARC has established the following Centres in Africa.

1. Euro-Nairobi Centre for African Entrepreneurship Research and Development University of Nairobi, Nairobi-Kenya
2. Euro-Zimbabwe Centre for Small Business Research and Development University of Zimbabwe, Harare-Zimbabwe;
3. Euro-Zanzibar Centre for Business Research and Development Zanzibar University, Zanzibar-Tanzania

• coordinate outreach activities of training and consulting programs geared towards the local small and medium businesses.
• develop and coordinate practical projects for final year under and postgraduate students of the faculties of management and commerce that gives them the opportunity to earn credits by completing a project for small and medium businesses or providing business consultancy services to small business within the local communities
• partner the faculties of management and commerce in developing and teaching specialized part and full-time programs in entrepreneurship and business development streams for entrepreneurs. This stream will provide the training required by entrepreneurs to enable them professionalize, develop and grow their operations
• develop and teach entrepreneurship from a multidisciplinary stand point to undergraduates and postgraduate students of the University keen in working with non governmental organizations, financial and consultancy services and support to the business sector. Also, to train students towards their own business creation and self employment after graduation
• provide consultancy services and develop mutual relationships with the business communities
• organize conferences, workshops, develop and present short training programs to address the needs of the small and medium businesses
• design multidisciplinary courses that facilitate students of other disciplines to train and carry out research projects in the field of entrepreneurship
• develop, coordinate and teach a range of certificated courses in entrepreneurship and management programs either as the Centres stand-alone programs or in conjunction with other departments or faculties
• seek and work with interested faculties and departments within the Universities and also with other organizations and interest groups outside the Universities to promote new business development and management within the different African societies
• develop courses to teach and train trainers to provide appropriate small and medium business development and management training
• design the "Culture Dimensions of Development" methodology as a 'common core course" for undergraduates and graduate students of management, business administration and entrepreneurship.
• develop the teachers and trainers capabilities in the application of culture dimensions methodology in training, research and consulting activities of the Centres.