R950,00
The “LED – Innovation and Capacity Building” course focuses on how municipalities can cultivate a knowledge economy and empower local stakeholders to drive sustainable economic growth. It emphasises that continuous innovation and skills development are essential to maintaining local competitiveness and preventing economic marginalisation.
Building a Knowledge Economy and Innovation A central theme of the course is the transition toward a knowledge-based economy. To achieve this, municipalities must identify and support local institutions capable of promoting research, development, and an entrepreneurial culture. The curriculum highlights the importance of fostering strong collaborative networks between tertiary educational institutions, research organisations, private enterprises, and local government. By establishing special industrial parks, learning programmes, and international linkages, localities can stimulate innovative thinking and develop unique competitive advantages.
Knowledge Management and a Learning Culture The course stresses that creating a robust learning culture is integral to successful LED. At the national level, the National LED Forum takes the lead in promoting innovation by gathering, monitoring, and disseminating best practices across municipalities. Locally, LED units must prioritise successful knowledge management and transparent communication strategies. Sharing vital economic data, research reports, and statutory information in a user-friendly manner ensures that stakeholders remain engaged and informed, preventing LED initiatives from fading due to information hoarding.
Developing Personal and Institutional Capacity Because LED requires diverse disciplines—ranging from financial planning to infrastructure development—building capacity across all stakeholder groups is critical. The course details various methodologies for capacitating municipal staff, Ward Committees, and community members. Capacity-building strategies extend beyond traditional classroom training to include practical coaching, mentoring programmes, study tours, and horizontal knowledge exchanges with similar institutions. The ultimate goal of a coach or LED manager is to move individuals to a point where they are confident and competent enough to champion LED initiatives independently.
Participatory Learning Finally, the course highlights that capacity building must be deeply inclusive. Time must be taken to educate marginalised or less confident community groups about how the local economy works, ensuring they can participate meaningfully in joint assessment and planning processes. By empowering local actors with the necessary skills and establishing dedicated learning mechanisms, municipalities can effectively institutionalise LED and ensure its constant improvement.
