CLGF is joining forces with the Botswana Association of Local Authorities (BALA) and the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development to hold an Investment Facilitation Fair.

Showcasing bankable business plans

The Fair, which is taking place on 25 March, will virtually launch public-private discussions, by showcasing bankable business plans and key projects. This is part of the Upscaling Developmental Local Governance through Local Economic Development project, running from 2017 to 2021 and funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO, formerly known as DFID). As part of the project, councils have received training in designing LED Strategies and District Development Plans and the Fair provides an ideal opportunity to put theory into practice.

Partnerships for Local Economic Development (LED) is a key theme for the Fair and it has three main objectives, to:

• Build sustainable relationships with the private sector as part of the Global Compact to ensure achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• Mobilise industry expertise to finalise implementation modalities of the key projects and investments; and
• Provide an overview of support provided by the Botswana government to promote investments i.e., financial and non-financial incentives.

The overarching aim is to mobilise resources in general to support the implementation of bankable business plans and LED projects.

Developing inclusive economies

CLGF’s Southern Africa Programme Manager, Ms Nyasha Simbanegavi, said: “LED requires all actors in both the public and private sector to work together to develop inclusive local economies. Partnership in economic development is not just about mobilising resources to address the challenges, but rather about going beyond the normal stakeholder consultation processes to co-create and co-implement solutions within local economies. These partnerships are a prerequisite for successful LED implementation.”

The councils benefiting from this project include: Francistown, Sowa, Chobe, Kgalagadi, Boteti, Goodhope and Lobatse. Working with local stakeholders, these councils have been involved in LED capacity building, developed of Local Economic Assessments & LED Strategies, and Bankable Business Plans for catalytic projects.