Project Ideas Bank

Here we will share ideas and resources on many types of LED programmes and projects that are undertaken in communities across the world. Our focus is to provide ideas that could be adapted to the African context. We have categorised the many types of LED activities into five thematic areas. Click on these five thematic areas and you will find many rationale for taking action, then there are many methods and finally examples of activities uploaded by LEDNA advisers and users. With your help, we will add to these ideas; we are especially keen to share more African experiences, as you can see this is just the beginning of the project. Please send ideas and comments through our contact form.
Thematic Areas

1. Economic Governance
Economic governance is all about the systems we need to put in place to organise for, design and deliver local economic development strategies and projects. Resources here include establishing effective enabling environments at national and local levels, appropriate organisational structures and partnerships to both design and implement LED. These resources include researching the local economy, improving local government and governance as well as resources to build local capacity. Find more here.

2. Enterprise Development
It is the private sector, formal and informal, micro, small and medium sized businesses that form the backbone of economies in every country. Successful local economies have at their core programmes that encourage and enable businesses to grow, through positive local business enabling environments. There are many programme and project options available to facilitate new enterprise formation and enterprise development at the local level, which complement national macro-economic activities. Find more here.

3. Livelihoods Development
Many communities suffer from inadequate basic infrastructure, services and support for micro-businesses. This is especially true in developing economies, and most of Africa. This makes it is difficult for businesses to form and expand beyond rudimentary or subsistence levels and makes it difficult for people to access work, further limiting options out of poverty. Resources here will give rationales, methods and examples of how to enable livelihoods development. Find more here.

4. Locality Development
A fourth core dimension for successful local economies is to create functional and also attractive physical and natural environments in which businesses can grow and prosper and that are also attractive for skilled workers. Traditional hard infrastructure programmes contribute to locality development, as do more modern revitalisation, upgrading and quality of place improvements. Find more here.

5. Workforce Development
Unemployment, the lack of available jobs, the mismatch between skills needed and skills available, as well as high levels of informal employment are all major concerns in many localities. Workforce Development programmes address all of these issues and for Africa, increasing effort needs to be taken to ensure citizens are better equipped to compete for jobs. Find more here.