This project aims to institutionalise effective communication and coordination development planning and project implementation among municipalities and community-based organisations in the Alfred Nzo District in the Eastern Cape. There is a huge communication gap between the district municipality and local municipalities as well as between the local government bodies and the communities in the region.

About 60 participants from 30 civil society organisations and 15 councillors at a district level recived training about development issues and effective communication. Some 15 people at the district municipality recived training in financial management systems.

In addition, several thousand pepole in 19 villages in the district were reached with 'Theatre for Africa' , a theatre performance used to drive awarness in the communities about their rights and duties as citizens and the possible communication channels with the municipality. Swisscontact oversaw a study on the municipality's culture of performance, which the district municipality will use to improve internal communications and drive a culture of performance excellence.

After encouraging results at Alfred Nzo District Municipality, the next phase of the project will focus on getting the local municipalities more involved. Innovative communication channels such as theatre and radio on the concept of peer review will be used to ensure that knowledge is shared between the stakeholders involved in the project.

Contact Mr. Juancho Hagnauer: jh@swisscontact.co.za

Initiated in 2008, Local Economic Development Network Of Africa (LEDNA) is a pan-African effort to institutionalise local economic development through national and local policies and programmes. It promotes sharing of knowledge and also aims to strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders by providing them with local economic development knowledge and tools.

LEDNA has sought to achieve its objectives through partnerships with local government associations in countries such as Mali, Togo, Botswana and Zambia. It has also developed a one-stop online knowledge hub (www.ledna.org) that offers free access to nearly 3,000 peer-checked economic development resources.

A social networking platform with a growing membership in enabling people around the continent to share knowledge and experience. One major success story is the successful facilitation of a five-year national local economic development programme in mali that spans 16 cities. In addition, programmes are facilitated on an ongoing basis in Togo, Botswana and Zambia.

LEDNA Coordinator Mr. Francois Yatta: francois.yatta@ledna.org  

Swisscontact launched this project in July 2008 (with funding from Credit Suisse) with thr aim of helping small businesses in the Gauteng province to improve their contribution towards job creation. The project focuses on disseminating information about business development and financial services avaliable to small businesses; and encourage stakeholders in the financial sector to assign resources to small businesses.

To date, the project team has commissionedsurveys to assess the information needs of small businesses, has developed training materials that address small businesses' information needs and financial literacy, and conducted via print and broadcast media. The main focus is on growing financial literacy among entrepreneurs by educating them about how to manage their money better, understand the advantages and disadvantages of financial products, and apply financial management principals to their businesses.

The project has recruited a number of mentors, who in turn have provided pre- and post-loan mentoring services to more than 60 businesses. In addition, the project has forged links with financial institutions and chambers of commerce to bring financial services to townships.

Client spotlight

Swisscontact has forged a close alliance with Etwatwa Devyton Kingsway Wattwille (EDKW) Chamber of Commerce and Industry for this project. About 50% of the Chanmber's membership comes from the survivalist sector, which includes street traders, spaza shops, cooperatives and other types of informal businesses.

The Chamber wanted to increase its outreach and offer members and the community a platform where they could access information, mentoring and access to finance. Working closely with Swisscontact, it has managed to reach more than 1,000 small businesses in four different communities with relevent business information through expos and information events.

Project Manager Mr. Neo Seleke: ns@swisscontact.co.za

On behalf of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Swisscontact initiated the Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) project with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in the process of manufacturing clay bricks. The project currently targets the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng, but will eventually reach all clay brick- producing areas of South Africa.

The VSBK project is a technology transfer project that aims to migrate brick manufacturers from clamp to more environmentally-friendly kilns in the brick manufacture process. The technology, sourced from Nepal and India, will be piloted with 20 South African firms. Local entrepreneurs and workers as well as specialised service providers are targeted for knowledge transfer.

Entrepreneurs such as Namakwa Stene are interested in the kiln technology as a means to reduce energy costs and comply with environmental regulations. The first kilns will be fired up in 2010, after which Swisscontact will be able to report on the economic and environmental impact of this project.

Client spotlight
Namakwa Stene produces about four million bricks a year with about 50 employees. Recognising that the drop-off in manufacturing volumes as a result of the recession is a perfect opportunity to invest in new technology, the company is working with Swisscontact to introduce the kilns to its business.

Contact Mr. John Volsteedt: john.volsteedt@sa-vsbk.org