The HSRC is rolling out a new phase of Innovation for Local Economic Development (ILED) in the Namakwa district municipality in Northern Cape. This includes capacity development sessions to help innovation champions understand what ILED is and how it works in municipalities. The HSRC team hosted an introductory training for recently recruited innovation champions in the second week of May.
Innovation champions are unemployed graduates funded by the Department of Science Technology and Innovation (DSTI) to assist the local economic development (LED) offices of municipalities. They work alongside experienced LED practitioners from a municipality to operationalise ILED and foster vibrant knowledge-sharing engagements. Those who participated in the capacity training gained hands-on experience with specialised Local Innovation Advancement Tools (LIAT):
- Innovation Orientation Analysis Tool – assesses how innovation thinking is embedded in municipal strategic documents
- Innovation Value Chain Mapping Tool – provides structured mapping of local innovation activities and networks
This capacity development initiative demonstrates how the ILED vision is being operationalised through practical, innovation-focused interventions that strengthen LED capabilities in municipalities.
The training directly implements the National Framework for Local Economic Development (NFLED) 2018–2028, positioning innovation as the catalyst for municipal economic advancement. The newly trained Innovation Champions will lead comprehensive innovation value chain mapping across Namakwa’s municipalities over the next few months. This evidence-based approach will inform strategic planning decisions and support the establishment of an ILED Community of Practice in the district.
Here is a link for information about the previous phase on promoting innovation for local economic development in Namakwa District municipality and wider Karoo:
