Local Economic Development Initiatives Research Articles

Functionality of Farmers’ Stores and Local Economic Development Initiatives in Oyam District: A Case of Aber Sub-County

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the functionality of farmers’ stores and LED initiatives. Specifically, the study determined the effect of farmers’ stores functionality on resource mobilisation; assessed the contribution of farmers’ stores functionality on resource management; and assessed the effect of farmers’ stores functionality on resource utilisation.
 Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design, which employed a mixed methods approach of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study population consisted of 322 respondents, which involved both political leaders and civil servants of Aber Sub County in addition to members of the farmers’ groups. Both the Simple random sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were used to select a sample of 177 participants. The researcher adopted Self-Administered Questionnaires to collect quantitative data and an interview guide to collect qualitative data. Both descriptive statistics (mean, and standard deviation), and inferential statistics (correlation and regression) were used to analyse numerical data. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data.
 Findings: The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between functionality of farmers’ stores and LED initiatives. The functionality of farmers’ stores yielded a significant effect on resource mobilisation, resource management and resource utilisation. It was concluded that the functionality of farmers’ stores significantly affects LED initiatives in Aber Sub County, Oyam district.
 Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice: It is recommended that the production and agricultural department of Oyam district local government strengthens the capacity of farmer groups by training them on activities such as value addition and financial management so that they can be in position to mobilise more financial resources. This study contributes an original and empirical-evidence of the functionality of farmers’ stores towards LED initiatives in Uganda.

Functionality of Farmers’ Stores and Local Economic Development Initiatives in Oyam District: A Case of Aber Sub-County

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between the functionality of farmers’ stores and LED initiatives. Specifically, the study determined the effect of farmers’ stores functionality on resource mobilisation; assessed the contribution of farmers’ stores functionality on resource management; and assessed the effect of farmers’ stores functionality on resource utilisation.
 Methodology: The study adopted a cross-sectional study design, which employed a mixed methods approach of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study population consisted of 322 respondents, which involved both political leaders and civil servants of Aber Sub County in addition to members of the farmers’ groups. Both the Simple random sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were used to select a sample of 177 participants. The researcher adopted Self-Administered Questionnaires to collect quantitative data and an interview guide to collect qualitative data. Both descriptive statistics (mean, and standard deviation), and inferential statistics (correlation and regression) were used to analyse numerical data. Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data.
 Findings: The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between functionality of farmers’ stores and LED initiatives. The functionality of farmers’ stores yielded a significant effect on resource mobilisation, resource management and resource utilisation. It was concluded that the functionality of farmers’ stores significantly affects LED initiatives in Aber Sub County, Oyam district.
 Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice: It is recommended that the production and agricultural department of Oyam district local government strengthens the capacity of farmer groups by training them on activities such as value addition and financial management so that they can be in position to mobilise more financial resources. This study contributes an original and empirical-evidence of the functionality of farmers’ stores towards LED initiatives in Uganda.

Investigation of land cover (LC)/land use (LU) change affecting forest and seminatural ecosystems in Istanbul (Turkey) metropolitan area between 1990 and 2018

This study was conducted to examine the land cover (LC)/land use (LU) change affecting forest and seminatural ecosystems and the spatio-temporal development of urban expansion between 1990 and 2018 in the city of Istanbul, where urbanization is the most intense in Turkey. For this purpose, using Corine Land Cover (1990, 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018) dataset, the land cover of the area was determined in 5 different classes (artificial surface, agriculture, forest, water bodies, water), maps were produced, and tabular data were created. The changes in LC/LU between 1990 and 2018 were determined according to the Puyravaud land cover change rate and hot spot analysis methods. According to our findings, we determined that urbanization in Istanbul expanded the most in the east-west direction, and the agricultural and forest areas gradually decreased by 3.02% and 6.66% respectively; urban areas increased at the same rate of 9.69%. It is predicted that this change will continue increasing until 2030 when the forecasting method is applied in the field. It has been determined that the most important reasons for this situation are local government policies, population growth, and economic development initiatives applied in the area. As a result, it has emerged that measures should be taken based on sustainability and naturalness approaches to design urban development plans and to protect natural areas on a large scale, in order to limit possible LC/LU conversion from natural structure to urbanization in the area.

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RURAL WOMEN IN A DEVELOPMENT PARADIGM: A PERSPECTIVE OF VULINDLELA IN KWAZULU-NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA

In South Africa, many rural households are female-headed even though women are the most disadvantaged and the poorest part of the population. Their economic empowerment is thus critical to implementing the ideals of South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) This paper reports on a quantitative study focused on local economic development opportunities for rural women as a strategic intervention for creating income-generating activities and sustainable livelihoods for women. It happened in Vulindlela, a rural district within the Msunduzi Municipality in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Severe poverty, lack of basic infrastructure, and a high level of unemployment can characterize Vulindlela, like any other rural area in South Africa. This study mainly aimed to establish the perceptions of the women of Vulindlela concerning accessing local economic development opportunities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The research sampling used non-probability and purposive sampling techniques. The study results revealed that females encounter numerous challenges in accessing local economic opportunities. Furthermore, the study results showed that women do not have the same possibilities as men due to gender biases in the employment sector and cultural constraints that continue to plague rural societies. Finally, driven by a broad scope of stakeholder interest, this article recommends implementing a gender-responsive budget and investment in infrastructure, skills development and training, and a meaningful execution of gender-sensitive programs such as affording women an equal opportunity to participate in local economic development initiatives.

Assessing the Quality of Local Government Training on Small Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in the Implementation of Local Economic Development initiatives (LED) in Ghana

Emerging economies are increasingly pressurised to implement local economic development (LED) initiatives as an intervention strategy for sustainability. Prior studies have underscored the significant achievement of first-world countries after embracing LED initiatives such as rapid job creation, poverty reduction, and money generation. This study presents and analyses the quality of MMDAs training on SMEs in implementing local economic development (LED) initiatives in Ghana’s Ga West and Kpando Municipalities. This study adopted a case study research design using a quantitative approach to assess the quality of local government training programmes for SMEs implementing LED in the Ga West and the Kpando Municipalities. Three hundred and thirty-one (331) SMEs were used for the study. The study found that most SMEs have knowledge of business-related training programmes available at the Municipalities and have also benefited from these training programmes. The available training programmes included capacity building, Record/Bookkeeping, Safety/Health and Environmental management training, among others. However, some of these training programmes did not meet the SMEs’ training needs, while others did not know this. Finally, the paper provided recommendations to improve how training policies.

Assessing the Quality of Local Government Training on Small Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in the Implementation of Local Economic Development initiatives (LED) in Ghana

Assessing the Quality of Local Government Training on Small Medium Enterprises(SMEs) in the Implementation of Local Economic Development initiatives (LED) in Ghana

Grassroot Engagement in Local Economic Development: A Case Study of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

This paper explores the best mechanisms that should be adopted and implemented to ensure successful implementation of Local Economic Development (LED) through a multi stakeholder engagement process. The municipalities should not only provide services and encouragement of socio-economic growth but they should also enhance the multi-stakeholder engagement in society to improve the livelihoods of communities. Local Economic Development (LED) as a global phenomenon seeks to create employment, reduce poverty and promote inclusive and equitable distribution of wealth for local communities. However, LED initiatives are characterised as a failure when they do nothing to alleviate the high rate of poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy. This study sought to explore the nature of multiple stakeholders engagement in the implementation of LED projects in eThekwini Municipality. Using a sequential mixed method research, the study mixed both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Findings revealed a high level of multi-engagement among those politically affiliated or the elite while people at the grass-root are not well engaged. Another reported problem was the top-down approach and pseudo-participation of other stakeholders, particularly, the "have nots" in the society. These findings should be useful to local government stakeholders as well as to policymakers by involving all sectors of the society in order to encourage the sustainable provision of services to communities and to stimulate socio-economic growth. This study revealed the need to enhance public participation and the need to move away from 'tokenist' approaches reported in the study. These findings also suggest the need for future scholarly investigation.

THE IMPACT OF COVID19 ON LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Local Economic Development is an approach towards economic development which allows and encourages local people to work together to achieve sustainable economic growth and development thereby bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all residents in a local municipal area. As a programme, LED is intended to maximize the economic potential of all municipal localities throughout the country and, to enhance the resilience of the macro-economic growth through increased local economic growth, employment creation and development initiatives within the context of sustainable development (Bibri, S.E., 2021). LED is globally, but especially in developing countries, seen as the solution to improved quality of life, unemployment, poverty, and inequality. Development economics is focused on the economic, cultural, and political requirements to effect fast institutional reform so as to distribute the benefits of economic progress to the broadest section of the population, thereby ensuring that the poverty trap is broken (Eldridge, E., Rancourt, M.E., Langley, A. and Héroux, D., 2022). In order to achieve this, government intervention by means of policy formulation is needed as a component of development economics. With this background this paper will look into the impact of covid 19 on Local economic development and innovation in the Eastern Cape Municipalities, as this pandemic is threatening the stability of local government economy. In this study of the impact of covid19 on local economic development policy, evaluation theory was considered in the conversion of inputs that pertain to community needs.

Determining the Nexus between National Policies and Local Practices in the Promotion of Businesses for Local Economic Development in Tanzania

National governments set policies that affect local level development and influence the pace and content of development initiatives. Local economic development (LED) initiatives require a more robust focus on issues that places local government authorities at centre stage. For decades, at the local government authority level, much effort has been seen in the social development arena shadowing efforts to promote local businesses through business development services. National level organs set to promote businesses and to support the business agenda are expected to be the change catalysts and to propagate supportive policies for sustainable local economic development objectives. Nonetheless, the desired integration of efforts between national and local authorities and the civil society is yet to be observed. Additionally, frequent policy changes affecting the balance of power and authority between the national and local level authorities impact less positively local capacity to promote businesses despite the national efforts in infrastructure development. It is observed that better integration of efforts between the different actors, increased capacity of local authorities and implementation of local initiatives to surmount local challenges while working on policy attributed gaps, are necessary for promoting businesses at the local authority level.

10.4314/ai.v34i3.22411

Local economic development is viewed as being of central importance for sustainable development. This paper examines the changing trajectories of local economic development in South Africa's major metropolitan centre, Johannesburg, which was one of the country's first localities to take up the task of LED planning. Specifically, the focus is on Johannesburg's LED as part of the search for the status of a 'world class African city'. The Johannesburg experience of LED represents a case of planning for local adjustment to globalisation and is of special interest to other large African cities, particularly those that potentially have more than a national role. The planning and urban management experiences of Johannesburg are of considerable interest and often are adopted or modified by other African cities. Two sets of discussion are provided here. The first contains a review and analysis of the shifting international debates concerning world cities. Against this backdrop, the second section of the paper examines Johannesburg's shifting local economic development initiatives, in particular from 1986 to the present day.

The implementation and sustainability of pro‐poor local economic development initiatives in King Cetshwayo District municipality

The implementation of economic development policies seems to be a persistent problem hindering local economic development (LED) in South Africa. The main aim of this article was to assess the implementation and sustainability of pro-poor LED in the King Cetshwayo District municipality. The need to address poverty and unemployment is one of the most critical issues in this municipality. A qualitative approach was adopted in this article whereby eight in-depth interviews were conducted among municipal officials in uMhlathuze and uMfolozi local municipalities. The researchers further conducted 14 focus group discussions with community members, which included cooperatives. The findings show that LED in the King Cetshwayo District municipality was conceptualised generally as a form of partnership or coalition undertaken between the key players in a local municipality and involves the development of partnerships between the private sector, government and civil society. Moreover, the Richards Bay Industrial Development Zone (RBIDZ) together with other stakeholders, including the municipality, has put measures in place to assist small and medium business enterprises (SMMEs) to benefit from the RBIDZ activities. The article recommends that partnership with young people, businesses and community organisations must be strengthened in order to address the problem of unemployment. This will open a space for more stable job opportunities for the residents. A certain percentage of outsourced work must be given to the youth who are qualified to do the job, and youth must be able to access funding when they try to establish cooperatives, SMEs and non-profitable organisations (NPOs).

English

The main objective of the article was to examine the forces that shape the behaviour of the actors in the local economic development implementation process in Accra Metropolitan, Keta Municipal and Shai-Osudoku District assemblies. Using qualitative data from multiple sources combined with multiple case studies, the study found that the three Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies implemented somewhat different LED strategies with multiple actors’ involvement. Lack of due diligence, weak and lack of institutional independence, absence of political leadership commitment, and political expediency negatively impacted LED implementation in the Accra Metropolitan and Keta Municipal Assemblies while Shai-Osudoku District Assembly had smooth local economic development implementation. Dynamics such as the land tenure system, micro and macro politics, administrative and institutional procedures, and political leadership shaped the behaviour of the actors in the three assemblies. Based on these, the study recommends that politicians should desist from interfering in LED issues; governments should consider the interests of local government units’ development needs in introducing local economic development interventions and broad consultations should be done before initiating local economic development initiatives. Key words: Actors, local economic development, LED interventions, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

Enseñanzas sobre el desarrollo económico local y la descentralización en América Latina

Hace 15 años, la revista CEPAL, en su número de Abril de 2004, daba cuenta de un proyecto de investigación cofinanciado por la Agencia Técnica Alemana de Cooperación Internacional (entonces GTZ), en el cual la evidencia empírica derivada del estudio de casi 30 estudios de caso en siete países de América Latina, mostraba que la emergencia de iniciativas de desarrollo económico local no se explicaba únicamente por el avance de los procesos de descentralización en los diferentes países de la región, sino como resultado de un conjunto más complejo de factores surgidos desde los propios territorios, con la movilización y actuación de agentes locales, públicos y privados. En este artículo se recuerdan las enseñanzas derivadas de aquella investigación en terreno, en la convicción de que pueden seguir manteniendo interés. No obstante, en el momento actual es preciso añadir los temas de la sostenibilidad ambiental que en aquel momento no eran aún parte de los debates y que hoy deben abordarse sin más demora.
 Palabras Clave: Desarrollo Económico Local. Desarrollo Territorial. Descentralización. Democracia. América Latina.

Linking sustainable local economic development to a market-based carbon control regime: Carbon restoration projects in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa using Portulacaria afra

Orientation: There is growing interest in how international climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes play out at the local level.Research purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the link between land restoration and carbon sequestration projects in the Eastern Cape, using Portulacaria afra (Spekboom), and market-based approaches to address global climate change.Motivation for the study: The Eastern Cape is one of the poorest areas of the country, and there is great emphasis on the establishment of economically and environmentally sustainable, as well as socially just, local economic development (LED) initiatives. However, LED projects are often not sustainable in the long run.Research design, approach and method: A mixed methods design, using data on international carbon markets, and key stakeholder interviews with those involved in LED land restoration programmes, was used. Qualitative results were analysed using Connelly’s (2007) framework for sustainable development, which included indicators for environmental protection, economic growth and social justice.Main findings: Stakeholders perceive the long-term financial sustainability of such projects as resting on their ability to earn carbon credits, despite the current very low international carbon prices.Practical/managerial implications: The long-term success of carbon-based restoration projects may depend on the establishment of a local carbon market or continued public funding. Upfront costs of land restoration projects are high and return only starts years later.Contribution/value-add: The establishment of a South African carbon market that helps carbon sequestration LED projects to meet the technical and administrative requirements needed to sell carbon credits will be an important determinant of their sustainability.

The feasibility of national parks in South Africa endorsing a community development agenda: The case of Mokala National Park and two neighbouring rural communities

This article explores the feasibility of South African National Parks (SANParks) endorsing a community development agenda, using Mokala National Park (MNP) and two neighbouring rural communities as case study. A three-phase sequential exploratory, mixed-methods approach was followed: an initial exploratory qualitative phase aimed at identifying the development needs of the two communities; a quantitative phase aimed at verifying and quantifying the identified needs; and a final qualitative phase (with a minor quantitative component) to determine what parks can reasonably achieve in terms of community development based on their available resources, capacity and expertise. Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews (Phase 1: n = 22; Phase 3: n = 6), which were thematically analysed. Quantitative data were collected via a structured questionnaire (Phase 2: n = 484; Phase 3: n = 6) and analysed using SPSS 23. Findings revealed that the communities’ most significant needs centred on employment opportunities; improved healthcare, service delivery and waste management; and education. Community members also expressed the need for improved community policing, safety and security; social services; agricultural support and training; general skills development and training; local leadership; recreational facilities; local economic development and conservation initiatives. Results from the third phase of the study suggest that parks such as MNP can realistically only address some of the identified community needs significantly; primarily job creation (via temporary employment), skills development, local economic development, support of local conservation (especially via environmental education) and, to a lesser extent, agricultural support and training and permanent job creation.Conservation implications: The findings could be of practical use to SANParks to steer its community development initiatives towards attaining a more optimal balance between actual community needs and what the organisation can realistically offer, thus rendering SANParks’ efforts more efficient and effective in supporting the establishment of equitable and sustainable rural communities.

The dilemma between the pro-market and the pro-poor local economic development approaches in the democratic South Africa: Theoretical perspective

Since the advent of the democratic government in 1994, there has been a serious contestation over the meaning and implications of local economic development in South Africa. Central to the debates has been on whether local economic development initiatives should take pro-market or pro-poor approach in the local government. To this end, the critical divide has been between those who believe that the local government should provide a direct solution by supporting projects for job creation and those who advocate for an indirect solution in terms of creating an enabling environment for local economic development. The article therefore argues that the pro-market local economic development approach often limit the local control of economic activities and resources, instead it is seen to perpetuate an exclusive economy. Against this background, the article applies the Economic Base and the Location Theories to explain, from a theoretical perspective, why the pro-market approach for local economic development planning in the democratic South Africa is preferable in the expense of the pro-poor approach. The article concludes that the pro-market local economic development approach is incapable of creating the inclusive local economies and lacks the determination for the realisation of real potential and competitive advantages for addressing local needs of the poor people.

Peran Pemangku Kepentingan dalam Pengembangan Klaster Enceng Gondok di Kecamatan Banyubiru

Local economic development (LED) is part of regional development concepts which emphasizes the use of local resources and capabilities and cooperation between all components to achieve quality and sustainable development. The LED initiatives could be accomplished through (industrial) business cluster approach. Cluster is basically a grouping of businesses characterized by business commonalities in proximate locations. The cluster growth requires proper role and involvement from the all stakeholders ranging from public to private sectors such as financial institutions, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and local communities. Water Hyacinth Cluster in Banyubiru Subdistrict of Semarang Regency is of a good example. During its development trajectories, the Water Hyacinth Cluster has faced several problems because of which the call upon multiple stakeholders involvement necessary. This study aims to figure out and measure the effectiveness of the role played by each stakeholder in the observed cluster development. This study uses a mixed method research which combines quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative approach is used to measure the effectiveness of the role played by the stakeholders involved in cluster, and the qualitative approach to assess and figure out the role of stakeholders deeper. The conclusion reveals that the non-government institutions perform the most dominant involvement among the remaining stakeholders. In addition, the role in production input stage is considerably more effective to the overall cluster performance.

Local economic development beyond the centre: Reflections on South Africa’s secondary cities

Research on local economic development in South Africa has been dominated by reflections on the larger metropolitan areas, while secondary cities have received scant attention. This paper evaluates local economic development initiatives in six secondary cities in South Africa. It advances three arguments based on South African and international literature. First, the local economic development strategies for these cities pay too little attention to creating effective links with their rural hinterlands. Second, while globalization increases both vulnerabilities and opportunities, these cities are ill-prepared to deal with the former or benefit from the latter. Third, local economic development strategies tend to focus on cluster initiatives, which in essence are inward looking. Such strategies increase competition with the larger metropolitan areas. The secondary cities are unlikely to compete effectively with these larger areas if they continue to follow inward-looking or cluster-oriented approaches.

New Labour’s regional experiment: Lessons from the East Midlands

The Labour Governments of 1997–2010 introduced a range of new regional institutions in England, which were subsequently abolished after the 2010 General Election. This article re-assesses the lessons which emerged from the regional policies pursued during this period and argues the Coalition Government elected in 2010 has failed to learn those lessons. The article identifies three key lessons: that place and scale matter, that local government needs to be centrally involved, and that local economic development initiatives require effective local leadership to gain the buy-in of the private sector. The lessons contained in this article retain relevance for current and future regional development efforts.

Local Economic Development Initiatives in Ghana: The Challenges and the Way Forward

This case study presents and analyses Local Economic Development (LED) initiatives and challenges from two districts in Ghana. The study is a qualitative case study that uses individual interviews through purposive selection from officials who are directly involved in the formulation and implementation of district development initiatives. The study found that the district does not have a LED policy in place but have initiated and implemented a number of programmes that are pro-LED. These programmes are in the area of agriculture, human resource development, financing and infrastructure development. However, the implementation of these initiatives has encountered many challenges such as inadequate human resource, finance, absence of LED policy and improper collaboration among local level actors. The paper provides the way forward for the initiation and implementation of LED at the local level.