On June 17 and 18, 2009, LMRF and the M&E unit of DED delivered the Introductory Workshop of the 2009/2010 Emerging Researchers Capacity Enhancement Programme (ERCEP) in the Balmoral Hotel, Durban. It is already the 3rd time the LMRF and DED run this programme with Petra Penninkhoff, of Royal Tropical institute in the Netherlands as the principal trainer.

Bongani Matomela, LMRF Director

From June 01, 2009 LMRF is moving towards becoming an independent entity. The European Union financial support to the LMRF implemented by a consortium led by the Netherlands based Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), Ruicon cc, and Centre for Development Support of the University of Free State, came to an end on May 31, 2009.

Registration of the LMRF (to be named LED Monitoring and Research Facility) as a section 21 company, is in full swing and will be completed at the end of June 2009. Founding members of the new company have been drawn from the development and private sectors across KZN province and beyond.

In order to improve service delivery the South African government has identified M&E as a priority for all public sector institutions. It has developed a programme called Government Wide Monitoring and Evaluation (GWM&E). The new ANC government has continued to put M&E at the top of the agenda. In his address to the British Business Conference, the Treasurer for ANC, Mr Mathews Phosa, stated that the new ANC government will not change existing government policies, but will rather strengthen and improve the M&E capacities initiated by the previous government in order to ensure service delivery improvement. The implication is that government institutions should prioritise M&E capacity building in order to ensure that this goal is realised.

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FinMark Trust, the Learning, Monitoring and Research Facility (LMRF) for KwaZulu-Natal and the South African Local Economic Development Network co-hosted a seminar to highlighted and promote awareness of a new wave of microfinance that is sweeping through Africa. SaveAct and VSL & Associates were invited to share their experiences in this model. The seminar was well attended by organisations involved in pro-poor financial services, financial institutions, KZN government (Department of Economic Development), research institutions and NGOs. The programme was directed by the CEO of the South African Savings Institute (SASI), Mmakgoshi Phetla-Lekhethe. She opened the seminar with an overview of what SASI does and their analysis of the financial sector situation in relation to consumer behaviour and alarming levels of indebtedness versus a deteriorating culture of savings. Some of the worrying factors include the increased number of people registering for debt counselling (about 3 500 per month), while savings levels have decreased to 1% of household income. Below is a brief seminar report and two powerpoint presentations.

WHAT KIND OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
AN ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF COMPETING VISIONS OF LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SA’S 2009 PARTY POLITICAL ELECTORAL MANIFESTOS

The term local economic development (LED) does not appear in the electoral manifestos of any of the parties contesting South Africa’s 2009 General Election. While disturbing, this does not mean that the parties’ positions on growth, employment, poverty, sustainable livelihoods, food security, institutional reform and policy innovation, all have implications for LED.

1. THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC)

From March 2 – 6, 2009 LMRF and DED’s M&E unit, delivered the final training workshop of the 2008/2009 Emerging Researchers Capacity Enhancement Programme (ERCEP).

The Emerging Researchers Capacity Enhancement Programme for M&E in LED was set up and piloted in 2007. At the end of this pilot, a first batch of 15 participants graduated in March 2008. ERCEP aims to develop a pool of specialists that have knowledge of and skills in participatory monitoring, evaluation and impact assessment of programmes, projects and business ventures aimed at local economic development. Efforts are underway to further develop the programme for it to lead to a National Diploma at NQF level 6.

Early in 2008, Heifer Project SA approached LMRF to discuss the way in which LMRF could assist operationalising Heifer’s strategic plan. After initial discussions, a joint field visit to one of Heifer’s projects and internal deliberations, LMRF prepared a proposal and budget, which Heifer approved marking the start of a fruitful partnership.

Although our economic crisis monitor showed modest improvement last week; most other indicators released provided no end in sight to the economic downturn. The European Monetary Union (EMU)
posted Q4 growth last year of -1.5%, with only Greece and Cyprus recording growth. Canada recorded its first trade deficit since 1976, and along with China whose exports declined by 17.5% and imports collapsed 43% during January, were solid proof that world trade is shrinking.

For an economy who relies heavily on consumer spending (65% of growth), the US took another smack when employment fell by a further 598 000 in January. This was worse than expected, and in
addition the previous four months were revised down by a shock 311 000.

The Durban Investment Promotion Agency (dipa) together with the South African LED Network, Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI) and The Learning, Monitoring and Research Facility (LMRF)

invite you to attend a national BR&E event which will provide an opportunity for people who have been involved in BR&E initiatives to share their learning and experience and also to discuss the possible formation of a BR&E Community of Practice linked to the LED Network and BRE Iinternational (BREI). Three training courses are being offered in conjunction with this:

9-10 March: SA BR&E Course: A two day BREI accredited course on how to conduct a local BR&E programme.
10 March: BREI Registration Course: A one day course to obtain BREI recognition for training before 2008