1. Elaboration of an economic development strategy
Arl820s/arl821s: advanced regional and local economic development

2. outline
Local economic development in Windhoek: context, mission, vision, roles, objectives, need and strategic thrusts

3. objective
To examine in-depth the economic development strategy for the City of Windhoek

4. introduction Important role of Windhoek in national economy
Need for local economic development strategy to guide economic activity in the city

5. City of Windhoek local economic development (LED) strategy
Spans the period
Takes into account different strategy and policy documents at national, regional and local levels
Aligns with Namibia’s Vision 2030 document

6. context Location of Windhoek in centre of country
Windhoek’s economy is not based on fishing, mining or agriculture
Economy based on manufacturing, wholesale, retail, real estate, the government sector and tourism

7. Windhoek: vision and mission
Vision: “To enhance the quality of life of all our people”
Mission: “To render effective and efficient municipal services”

8. Role of city of Windhoek in led
Facilitation
Promotion
Creating opportunities
Providing an enabling environment

9. Objectives of led strategy
Identify practical sectoral programmes
Undertake focused analysis of major sectors
Emphasise SMME development
Create enabling environment and provide framework for LED implementation
Emphasise city’s leadership and supportive roles
Ensures alignment with existing strategies and private sector efforts

10. The need for led in Windhoek
Accelerated manufacturing growth, expansion and diversification
Trade stimulation and business development
Entrepreneurial support and small business development
Tourism promotion

11. Need for accelerated manufacturing growth, expansion and diversification
Absence of an Industrial Investment/Development Strategy
Poor resource planning
Non-optimal exploitation of manufacturing potential

12. Need for trade stimulation and business development
Lack of locally produced goods in the market
Absence of Investment Incentive Policy
Need for SME support
Lack of formal institutionalised structures to regulate public-private partnerships
Need for a CBD Revitalisation Plan
Sub-standard marketing of businesses, trade opportunities and available resources
Little statistical information about local socio-economic conditions

13. Need for entrepreneurial support and small business development
Non-finalisation of City of Windhoek SME Strategy
Lack of collaboration between SMEs and large businesses
Absence of up-to-date SME database

14. Need for tourism promotion
Finalisation of tourism strategy
Need for inter-departmental coordination

15. Strategic thrusts
Need for linkages between projects and actions in strategic development framework
Thrusts: “Planned actions aimed at creating an impetus and a critical mass in the local economic environment in order to generate momentum in the local economy”

16. Development thrusts for the city of Windhoek
Trade, Investment Promotion and Business Development
Manufacturing and Industrial Development
SMME Development
Tourism Development
Skills Development
Development of industrial database
Infrastructure provision
Competitive advantage
Investment promotion
Business development
Trade promotion
Networking
SMME development by providing a conducive environment
Public-private partnership
Capacity building
and training

17. Development thrusts for the city of Windhoek
Manufacturing and industrial development
Trade, investment promotion and business development
SMME development
Tourism development
Skills development

18. Manufacturing and industrial development
Development of industrial database
Infrastructure provision: serviced land
Competitive advantage: industrial survey

19. Trade, investment promotion and business development
Trade promotion
Networking

20. SMME development
SMME development by providing a conducive environment: regulatory environment, streamlining support, facilitating access to finance and markets, business infrastructure, provision of training and technology

21. Tourism development
Public-private partnership: opportunities for interaction between LED and tourism, place marketing, awareness creation, capacity building

22. skills development
Capacity building and training: LED training, guiding principles for monitoring and evaluation, review of policy documents

23. Discussion questions
Assess the background and context associated with Windhoek’s local economic development (LED) strategy.
State the vision and mission of the City of Windhoek.
What are the roles of the City of Windhoek in LED?
Assess the objectives of the LED strategy for Windhoek.
Discuss the need for LED in Windhoek.
What are the development thrusts associated with LED in Windhoek?

24. Open debate and discussion
The success or failure of Windhoek’s LED strategy automatically determines the state of LED throughout Namibia.

25. course evaluations and plan for remainder of semester
High ratings for teaching approach
Most useful aspects of class: group presentations, class discussions, debates, lecturer corrects but does not criticise students
Least useful aspects: too many assignments and lecture materials
Recommendations:
Reduce assignments and information overload in lectures
Excursion to organisations involved in local economic development
More specific examples or comparisons during presentations
Lecturer must allocate marks during presentations

26. review Sub-theme Details City of Windhoek LED Strategy
Spans the period
Takes into account different strategy and policy documents at national, regional and local levels
Aligns with Namibia’s Vision 2030 document
Context
Location of Windhoek in centre of country
Windhoek’s economy is not based on fishing, mining or agriculture
Economy based on manufacturing, wholesale and retail
Windhoek Vision and Mission
Vision: “To enhance the quality of life of all our people”
Mission: “To render effective and efficient municipal services”
Role of City of Windhoek in LED
Facilitation; promotion; creating opportunities; providing an enabling environment
Objectives of LED Strategy
Identify practical sectoral programmes
Undertake focused analysis of major sectors
Emphasise SMME development
Create enabling environment and provide framework for LED implementation
Emphasise city’s leadership and supportive roles
Ensures alignment with existing strategies and private sector efforts
The need for LED in Windhoek
Accelerated manufacturing growth, expansion and diversification
Trade stimulation and business development
Entrepreneurial support and small business development
Tourism promotion
Development thrusts for the City of Windhoek
Manufacturing and industrial development
Trade, investment promotion and business development
SMME development
Tourism development
Skills development

27. reference
City of Windhoek. (n. d.). The City of Windhoek Local Economic Development Strategy,