Khanya-aicdd recently  (September 2010) completed another training on Planning for Community-based economic development (CBED). The workshop was held in Willowmore (Eastern Cape) for Ikwezi and Baviaans Local Municipalities and was attended by members of the community, youth-development facilitators, representatives from Community-based Organisations, emerging farmers, Ward Councillors and a host of key resource people from these local communities.

“If we can have the right communication with our communities, then our programmes will run well… there were times when the community could not understand us, and now, as a result of this process we can now explain what we want to achieve” commented Mthetho Williams, a social entrepreneur who runs ‘Ikamvale Klipplaat’ a local support centre and crèche in Dan Sandi Village, Klipplaat. Like most of the other participants, Mthetho is one among a range of stakeholders who are represented in the partnership for Community-based Economic Development.

The workshop involved practical training on community-based planning (CBP) followed by a week of hands-on experience of consulting with communities. Week-long consultations were held throughout Klipplaat, Steytlerville, Jansenville and Willowmore culminating in a session to identify key development priorities as defined by each community.

This initiative forms part of the Learning Partnership for Community-based economic development which aims to address the lack of co-ordination between various public sector institutions and the weak relationship between the public and private sector. It seeks to improve community participation in the development planning process so that communities, development forums and individuals can identify local opportunities, and participate in driving development.   The project addresses key elements of Cacadu District Municipality's Economic Development and Growth Strategy in the Eastern Cape.

“This programme is important to us because it involves the community in planning processes. We can’t do anything without involving our community, because we are working for their development!” emphasised Lucinda, a Community development worker from Ikwezi Municipality. The issue she emphasises is critical for the programme because it also aims to build on local assets and strengths within these communities in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.

Ikwezi and Baviaans Municipalities

Ikwezi and Baviaans Municipalities have a combined population of only 25 000 despite covering a large area. Being situated in the arid Karoo (Eastern Cape) and characterised by high levels of poverty and unemployment, these municipalities, like many others in South Africa, face the challenge of ensuring effective integration of development support.

Primary problems in these areas include high levels of poverty, inequality and economic inactivity. Underlying problems can be attributed to economic stagnation, a fragmented approach within government and with private sector and civil society, and inadequate learning from experience. The majority of the population live in small towns which have experienced economic decline as industries have moved towards larger urban centres.

Community-based Planning

Community based planning, often referred to as CBP, aims to engage communities in bottom-up planning through creating a platform where they can participate meaningfully in local government planning – because their needs ought to inform municipal planning around service delivery. Khanya-aicdd is supporting the Learning Partnership through refining the methodology around resource flows and linking it to Community-based Economic Development.