UNCDF Pushes the Envelope on the Role of Local Authorities in Promoting Local Economic Development

Second Experts Meeting held in Kampala, Uganda to Map out Specific Strategies

Participants from the Local Economic Development Experts Meeting discuss specific proposals on ways to stimulate greater economic activity at the local level in Africa. An LED-related strategy involves a re-orientation of local governments from their traditional role of delivering social services to one which includes facilitating and supporting private sector development and investment.

KAMPALA, 07 April 2008: Since the 1990s, many African national governments and the donor community have displayed a growing interest in Local Economic Development (LED) as a means of spurring economic growth and bringing economic benefits to deprived communities. The assumption is that while the public sector can best provide the basic engine for economic development through the provision of roads, markets and electricity, it is the local private sector that ultimately provides the fuel to generate the levels of growth that can bring people out of poverty.

To further advance this line of thinking, the United Nations Capital Development Fund has organized a Local Economic Development Technical Consultation process to promote a platform for consultation, action research and launch a number of pilot programmes in the Southern and East African Region using Local Authorities as the focal entities. The most recent phase of this “knowledge development process”, took place in Kampala, Uganda in mid-March, with support from the Government of Austria.

UNCDF Regional Technical Advisor Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa said the most recent meeting, which involved 40 people from ten African countries, was a tremendous success. “The participants included representatives from Ministries of Local Government, Technical experts, practitioners, and academia,” he said.

“As a diverse group working toward a single vision, we were able to accomplish a number of important objectives, including finalizing a series of Country Situation Reports on Local Economic Development; identifying areas for further research; and laying the foundation to establish LED pilot programmes in Tanzania, Uganda, Malawi and Mozambique.”

Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa said the meeting concluded with a review of specific proposals for an Africa-wide Local Economic Development Forum, planned for September 2008 in Kampala. It is expected that the Africa Forum will create an interface between LED experts and practitioners, and Governments and Local Authorities to discuss and take the LED agenda in the Region to the next level, with specific policy recommendations and active measures to maintain the momentum. The forum will be hosted by UNCDF and the Ministry of Local Government of Uganda.