CLGF’s DFID-funded Programme on Strengthening Local Economic Development in South Asia, is bringing together local government practitioners and LED experts from different Commonwealth countries to share experience and best practice with Indian city and municipality administrators as part of a pilot project to help build knowledge and understanding on LED and develop work programmes in two partner cities.

Working jointly with the Government of Madhya Pradesh’s Urban Administration and Development Department, the pilot project is focussing on the cities of Indore and Jabalpur. The projects have been linked to government’s existing framework for implementing the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), which aims to improve the livelihood of the urban poor in areas with a population over 100,000.

Starting from this baseline, the pilot is working towards developing a strategic approach to LED support across all communities with a particular focus on marginalised groups in addition to building knowledge and capacity of councillors and city administrators.

Several activities have carried in the two cities - Indore and Jabalpur, between April and October 2015, through LED exchanges and capacity building workshops that brought together key stakeholders including self help groups, municipal corporations, councilors, mayors and local businesses to help enhance the understanding and approaches to support LED by sharing international best practices and discussing successful replicable models of LED. Discussions also focused on strategies for engaging with the private sector and enabling the cities to draw a road map for an inclusive local economic development partnership.

One of the LED experts involved in the pilot exchange project - Letticia Naid, LED Programme Manager, South African Local Government Association (SALGA) said, “These engagements have provided some useful insights into local needs and the role municipalities can play in facilitating LED. The workshops have enabled participating municipalities to better understand the actual impact of service delivery on the livelihoods of the communities and ultimately on the local economy”.

Building on the work carried out under the pilot project, the next phase of the LED exchange programme will focus on implementing some of key priorities identified during the exchange by helping municipalities draw a long term LED strategy linked to their NULM commitment that can be part of their work programme to support local communities.