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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:The role of local economic development agencies in the South African local economic development landscape
Author:Lawrence, Faith
Year:2013
Periodical:Urban Forum (ISSN 1874-6330)
Volume:24
Issue:4
Pages:523-541
Language:English
Geographic term:South Africa
Subjects:local government
economic development
decentralization
Abstract:The establishment, current state, and challenges of local economic development agencies (LEDAs) in South Africa are analysed. LEDAs have become established elements of the local economic development (LED) landscape in South Africa, but their performance has been uneven. In the final analysis, LEDAs have not yet emerged as fully embedded implementation instruments in the system of local governance. The author argues that the LEDA model potentially has a pivotal role to play in managing, directing and coordinating economic development activities in certain local spaces. The success of LEDAs depends by and large on factors such as local economic potential, capacity and resource challenges, political and economic leadership, and the institutional readiness of both the agency and parent municipality to manage local development outcomes. The most successful example of a LEDA in South Africa is that of Aspire, the Amathole District Municipality's Economic Development Agency in the Eastern Cape. The Aspire model exhibits a strong people-development approach, identifying catalytic projects that are matched with social entrepreneurs who combine forces with local stakeholders to unlock local potential. Bibliogr., ref., sum. [ASC Leiden abstract]
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