Lessons learned in the LED support programme of the EU in RSA
STATUS: Completed
PROJECT LEADER:
Van der Bergh, GM (Mr Gray),
Watani, H (Ms Manana), Mabugu, M.R. (Prof Margaret), Josie, MJ (Dr Jaya)
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS:
Ndlovu, MP (Mr Phumlani), Booysen, AS (Ms Denise), Mento, S.Q. (Ms Shari), Verryn, AE (Ms Anna)
DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE: ()
Abstract
The main purpose of this study is the development of a research report to perform a ???strategic overview of existing evaluations that had been performed with regard European Union support to Local Economic Development (LED) in South Africa.???
In this respect four key objectives are identified:
1 To determine lessons learned from the 3 LED projects defined in the LED Project Proposal Document of the EU.
2 Critical analysis of policy and practice, informed by research and a desktop study.
3 Provision of research finding in a publication ready and user-friendly manner.
4 Enhance the visibility of the European Union support in the area of local economic development in South Africa.
These four objectives are interwoven into four key project phases.
The motivation behind this research is based on the need to inform policy makers, business actors, citizen-activists, academics and communities of practice on some ways of addressing the persistent problems of inequality, unemployment and poverty, particularly in the context South Africa. Although a number of LED initiatives have been undertaken in the past decade, their progress in implementation and impact is not known and emerging lessons have not been brought into the public arena. This report will systematically and independently analyse local practices, by highlighting the work undertaken in some of the EU-funded programmes that focus on pro-poor sustainable economic growth and employment creation, such as the Gijima Local Economic Development Programme, in the predominantly rural province of KwaZulu-Natal. Other examples are drawn from the rural areas of the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces.
