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one of South Africa's highest levels of poverty, Limpopo has
established its own institute focused exclusively on stimulating
pro-poor economic growth.The new Limpopo Centre for Local
Economic Development (LED) has been established with support
of an R8,6 million grant from theEuropean Union-funded Limpopo
Local Economic Development (LED)Programme.
The institute aims to become a "centre of excellence".
It will be situated within the Turfloop Graduate School of
Leadership and managed by the Development Facilitation and
Training Institute at the University of Limpopo. The Limpopo
Centre for LED will be based at the university's Edupark campus
in Polokwane.
The Limpopo Centre for LED aims to become self-funding within
three years by offering a wide range of services to the public
and private sector throughout southern Africa.
The Centre is closely aligned with national government's priority
to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014. It is also responding
to concerns, such as those expressed by Limpopo Premier Sello
Moloto, about the sustainability of pro-poor initiatives.
He has noted that poverty levels have not significantly declined
despite considerable funding of projects, and that projects
tend to collapse after the initial period of funding.
The Centre also complements the R300 million Limpopo LED Programme
which is being implemented by the Limpopo Department of Local
Government & Housing. The Programme aims "to reduce
poverty through pro-poor economic growth" by funding
commercially viable projects undertaken mainly through partnerships
between private sector developers and communities with assets,
such as restituted land.
In addition to investing R8,6 million in the new Limpopo Centre
for LED, the Limpopo LED Programme is investing R167,5 million
in Limpopo through three funds: the Marginalised Community
Fund; the Local Government Support Fund; and the Local Competitiveness
Fund.
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The Programme
has also invested R15 million in a special LED capacity building
programme that aims to strengthen the current weak ability
of municipalities to deliver effective LED and enhance pro-poor
growth.
The Limpopo Centre for LED will initially
focus on undertaking and disseminating research on pro-poor
economic growth, and then develop and offer services for different
markets. The Centre's core business will include:
* Research
The Centre will build a knowledge base on pro-poor growth
and LED, initially drawing on existing South African and international
research. However, it will undertake Limpopo-specific research
in such areas as:
- Competitiveness
Research will be based on the well established premise that
economies which are competitive and have an excellent environment
for business reduce poverty faster. Research will therefore
be undertaken with a view to placing the public and private
sectors in a position to better understand international and
local competitiveness.
In particular, emphasis will be placed on the development
of performance metrics to allow precise understanding of where
business is positioned in international markets, and what
is required to ensure a competitive environment for business
in Limpopo.
- Land reform
Research will focus on developing the viability of farm land
restored to communities under South Africa's post-apartheid
land dispensation, and on developing community-owned land
in general.
- Markets for the poor
Research will be based on meeting a critical challenge: linking
marginalised communities in the so-called 2nd economy with
the mainstream, 1st economy. The Centre will look at why markets
are not working for the poor in rural Limpopo and Southern
Africa, and at what interventions can assist them to gain
access to markets.
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* Capacity
building
The Centre will develop training services and capacity building
programmes tailored to the needs of government officials and
non-government organisations. Programmes will be flexible,
catering for general and specific needs.
* Advisory services
These will be fee-earning services for assisting organisations
to develop and deliver LED policies and strategies. Services
will include assessments of local economies, developing pro-poor
LED growth strategies, and monitoring and evaluating implementation
of policies with a view to improving policy and delivery.
* Supporting Activities
The core income generating activities will be supported by
information dissemination, promotion of the Centre, networking
to raise the profile of LED, and the development of a network
of researchers and practitioners which will assist in delivering
services.
For more information, please contact:
Dr Chris Burman: Head of the Limpopo Centre
for Local Economic
Development.
Tel: +27 (0)15 290 2873;
Fax: +27 (0)15 290 2826;
Cell: +27 (0)72 241 8166.
E-mail:
burmanc@edupark.ac.za
The University of Limpopo’s Edupark Campus
in Polokwane where the new Limpopo Centre for LED is
situated. In the background, construction is well underway
on the new stadium that will host 2010 World Cup soccer
matches. |
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