The meeting took place on 15 November from 14:00 – 16:00. The purpose of the Advisory Group meeting was:
To provide Advisory Group members with an update on the next phase of the ERLN
To present the ERLN work plan for 2017
For the Advisory Group to provide strategic inputs in terms of the direction of the Economies of Regions Learning Network for 2017
South Africa’s cities, metros and surrounding regions face the challenges of low economic growth, poorly functioning spatial economies, persistent socio-economic divides and unemployment, compounded by imbalances in investment potential and opportunity. Racial divisions and underdevelopment in rural areas and small towns with limited economic potential (and often linked to mineral resources), still persist today. In our current fiscally constrained environment, how do we lay the foundations and build the systems that will provide meaningful developmental and employment creation strategies? Fiscally, the option of increasing direct public sector employment has reached its limit. There is a recognition that attention needs to be shifted towards stimulating private sector employment. At the same time as there is an opportunity to realise the benefits of South Africa’s demographic dividend to stimulate economic growth, unemployment levels are high and achieving the right skills mix is a challenge. Within this context, what levers do regions have available to stimulate employment?
The Economies of Regions Learning Network (ERLN), the Eastern Cape Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), the Eastern Cape Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform (DRDAR) and the Institute for Development Assistance Management (IDAM) based at Fort Hare University are jointly presenting a 3-day training programme focused on agricultural value chains and regional economic development for stakeholders in the Eastern Cape from 12-14 September 2016.
South Africa is amongst a small group of uniquely unequal countries; if inequality acts as a constraint on growth – and greater equity unlocks it – how does it do so? What are the transmission mechanisms that lead to this effect? Can it be assumed that all forms of inequality are equal in this respect?