LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (LED) in RWANDA

1. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (LED) in RWANDA

2. LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Local Economic Development (LED) is first and foremost a processthat is participatory. It offers local government, the private sector, thenot-for-profit sectors and the local community the opportunity to work together to improve the local economy. It aims to enhance competitivenessand thus encourage sustainable growth that is inclusive.

3. WHO DOES LED? PRIVATE SECTOR CITIZENS PARTICIPATION! PUBLIC SECTOR

4. WHAT DOES LED MEAN FOR RWANDA? • Poverty Reduction • Citizen Participation • Pro-poor Economic Development

5. RALGA and LED: THE EARLY DAYS 2006: RALGA and GIZ set up LED programme • Objective: Enhance Capacity of the Districts in Local Economic Development • Activities: Pilot Project • Local Economic Assessments and • LED plans • Main output: Lessons learned in how to approach LED support in Rwanda

6. RALGA and LED: LESSONS LEARNED We learned: • Policy is necessary to support LED in Rwanda • There were too many overlapping plans in the District- This hindered LED • The concept of LED is not understood at both central and local levels • A weak relationship exists between the public and private sectors

7. NATIONAL FRAMEWORK Following Lobbying & Advocacy by RALGA, LED is included in national policy • EDPRS 2 • Decentralization Implementation Plan 2 • Pillar 6: Local Economic Development • National Strategy for Community Development and Local Economic Development • Rwanda Local Development Support Fund responsible for LED

8. RALGA and LED: 2013 and beyond Based on RALGA core mandate: • Representation • Lobbying and Advocacy • Capacity Building

9. REPRESENTATION • National Steering Committee for LED • LED Technical Working Group • Development Partner Platforms • Any LED forums nationally and internationally • Board Member RLDSF

10. LOBBYING & ADVOCACY • Advocacy for National Strategy implementation • Identification of LED issues: Position papers • Adhoc lobbying on behalf of districts as issues arise in LED and the implementation of national strategy • Recommendations for the improvement of District Development Plans

11. CAPACITY BUILDING • ToT for coaches & institutions • Training Resources • Training at the District Level • Councillors • District Staff • JADF • LG Innovation Day themes related to “Promoting Local Economic Development

12. OTHER INITIATIVES • Sharing Best Practices • Annual LG Innovation Competition • 2012: Promoting Local Economic Development • 2013: Innovative Initiatives for off-farm job creation” • Study Tours • LED Magazine • Public Private Dialogue • Partnership with Rwanda Public Private Dialogue Secretariat • Business Lunch Initiative

13. CHALLENGES remaining • Weak understanding of LED in Rwanda • Weak institutional knowledge & support • Need a coordinated approach by supporters of public and private sector

14. OPPORTUNITIES • National Policy, Strategy and Agenda – Political will • Funding available • Joint Action Development Forum (JADF) • Local PPD initiatives • Innovate to find new ways to encourage Public Private Dialogue & Cooperation

15. KICK-STARTING LED • KNOW your role • LISTEN to the private sector • CREATE awareness and understanding of Local Economic Development

16. THANK YOU !