Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting

Local Economic Development Concepts Tools And Applications Training

SAQA US 110501 | NQF 4 | Credits 8 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips participants with the conceptual understanding and practical tools to drive local economic development (LED) in South African municipalities and communities. It covers strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and project implementation to foster sustainable economic growth at the local level.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply LED concepts and theories to analyze local economic challenges
  • Evaluate the impact of LED strategies on community development
  • Design a comprehensive LED plan using appropriate tools and techniques
  • Implement stakeholder engagement processes to support LED initiatives
  • Demonstrate the use of monitoring and evaluation frameworks for LED projects

Target Audience

Ideal for local government officials, community development practitioners, economic development planners, and NGO professionals involved in LED initiatives.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Local Economic Development

Objectives:
• Define Local Economic Development and its role in South Africa.
• Identify key stakeholders and their roles in LED.
• Explain the principles of sustainable LED.
• Understand the policy and legislative framework for LED in South Africa.

Topics:
• Introduction to LED: concepts, definitions, and importance.
• Historical context of LED in South Africa.
• Key LED stakeholders: government, private sector, communities.
• Policy and legislative frameworks: LED Framework, IDP, NDP.
• Principles of sustainable LED: inclusivity, partnerships, local ownership.
• Overview of the unit standard and course outcomes.

Day 2: LED Tools and Approaches

Objectives:
• Describe various LED tools and their applications.
• Conduct a basic local economic analysis using SWOT and PESTLE.
• Explain the role of LED strategies in economic growth.
• Differentiate between sectoral, spatial, and community-based approaches.

Topics:
• LED tools: SWOT, PESTLE, economic base analysis, multiplier effect.
• Local economic analysis: data collection and interpretation.
• LED strategies: sector development, cluster development, value chains.
• Spatial approaches: industrial parks, special economic zones.
• Community-based approaches: cooperatives, SMME support.
• Case studies of successful LED tools in South Africa.

Day 3: Planning and Implementing LED Projects

Objectives:
• Develop a project plan for an LED initiative.
• Identify funding sources and resource mobilisation strategies.
• Apply monitoring and evaluation frameworks to LED projects.
• Understand the role of partnerships and governance in LED.

Topics:
• Project planning for LED: logic model, work breakdown structure.
• Resource mobilisation: budgeting, funding sources (DBSA, LED grants).
• Monitoring and evaluation: indicators, data collection, reporting.
• Governance structures: LED forums, steering committees.
• Partnerships: public-private partnerships, community engagement.
• Risk management in LED projects.

Day 4: Advanced Concepts and Innovation in LED

Objectives:
• Analyse the impact of globalisation and technology on LED.
• Evaluate green economy and circular economy approaches.
• Design an LED initiative incorporating innovation.
• Assess the role of entrepreneurship and innovation in LED.

Topics:
• Globalisation and LED: opportunities and challenges.
• Technology and innovation: digital hubs, e-commerce.
• Green economy: renewable energy, waste management.
• Circular economy: local recycling, upcycling initiatives.
• Entrepreneurship development: incubators, mentorship programmes.
• Social enterprise and inclusive business models.
• Case studies of innovative LED projects.

Day 5: Application, Integration, and Assessment

Objectives:
• Synthesise LED concepts into a comprehensive LED strategy.
• Present an LED project proposal to a mock stakeholder panel.
• Evaluate LED initiatives against sustainability criteria.
• Complete the unit standard assessment requirements.

Topics:
• Integrating LED tools and approaches into a coherent strategy.
• Developing an LED project proposal: problem statement, objectives, activities, budget.
• Stakeholder presentation skills: pitching, feedback, revision.
• Sustainability assessment: economic, social, environmental impact.
• Review of key learning outcomes.
• Formative assessment: group presentations.
• Summative assessment: written test and portfolio submission.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 19 Oct 2026 Fri 23 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 15 Feb 2027 Fri 19 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 19 Jul 2027 Fri 23 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 18 Oct 2027 Fri 22 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Fri 21 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 504 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Mauritius Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Johannesburg, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,592 Register
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Lagos, Nigeria Winter 2026 $4,482 Register
Mon 27 Jul 2026 Fri 31 Jul 2026 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Fri 22 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 24 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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