Dr. Jan Fransen is senior researcher in Urban Economic Development and Resilience at Erasmus University Rotterdam, working for the Institute of Housing and urban development Studies (IHS). He has over 25 years of experience in local economic development, with a particular interest in urban resilience, community-based organisations, small firm development, informality, clustering, innovation systems, global value chains and institutional economics. He presently conducts studies on urban resilience in Rotterdam, The Hague, Nairobi and internationally. Jan co-supervises PhD students, lectures in master programmes and co-coordinates short courses and a MOOC on Sustainable Local Economic Development. He has completed a wide range of research assignments, consultancies, training and has held various positions, including team leader, senior technical advisor, principal researcher and trainer. He has carried out projects for the World Bank, European Commission, United Nations, NGO’s and several national, regional and local governments worldwide. He has long and short-term working experience in over 25 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.