For the SDC, local economic development is not just an economic matter but a cooperative approach which provides an excellent tool for bringing together different interest groups to agree on local cooperation that can help create jobs and income, in addition to improving governance.

SDC focus

Moreover, local economic development can also strengthen governance at national level. In countries like Kosovo or Burkina Faso, the SDC conducts local economic development activities which have been implemented simultaneously in several towns. This has enabled municipalities (or rather territories, because each town has close links with its peri-urban and rural hinterland) to exchange information and experience that are specific to them. This has led to better cooperation among local authorities and thus added weight to the local dimension in dialogue with central government.

Background

Local economic development brings together various stakeholders from civil society, as well as the public and private sectors. Its goal is to promote cooperation so as to develop a given area. Cooperation is a key factor in governance. Local economic development (LED) triggers a political process in which the protagonists have to negotiate the priorities bearing in mind the limited human and financial resources at their disposal.

Forces that drive the economy

Economic considerations drive the private sector. Cooperation on creating public goods, such as improved framework conditions for investment, calls for a private-public collaboration that is built into concrete projects ("We'll build the road, and you'll build the factory. You tell us what's not right about the investment climate, and we'll put it right."). In this way, combined LED efforts create new business prospects. The public sector needs the private sector for local economic development.

In virtually every country, it is the private sector that creates most jobs and generates income, and jobs and income are a priority for the public sector's customers and voters. Poverty reduction and – perhaps more important for a civil servant – re-election of the mayor and his staff depend on the generation of income.

Governance as a process

Civil society, like local associations, should also be part of planning and implementing development projects in which the economic dimension is obviously not the only issue at stake. The State and local government do not cover all the ground. So the three stakeholder groups – the public and private sectors and civil society – negotiate and cooperate on the basis of concrete information derived from evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the local economy, as well as the opportunities and risks involved. This dynamic exchange between partners improves governance at local level.

Current projects

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Renewable Energy Skills Development RESD

01.04.2020 - 31.03.2025

The Renewable Energy Skills Development Project aims at supporting the expansion of Renewable Energy in Indonesia. It will do so by increasing the availability of qualified staff in the labor market for professional design, planning, installation, operation and maintenance of Renewable Energy (RE) power plants.


Modernization of Land Management in Colombia (Swiss Tierras) - Phase II

01.01.2020 - 31.12.2024

In the past, Colombia did not have a strong land management system, thus hindering economic development. With a first phase of support, SECO started to adress this gap. Phase II will now consolidate, further deepen and broaden the support, helping Colombia move further towards a modern land administration system.


Partnership f.Market Implementation Phase II

01.01.2020 - 30.06.2030

The Partnership for Market Implementation (PMI) responds to the increased demand from countries to focus on enabling mitigation policy instruments, including carbon pricing, that would support them in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets as well as to raise the ambition of their climate mitigation policies.


SwissTrade Program Vietnam

01.01.2020 - 31.12.2024

Vietnam?s development record over the past three decades through reforms and trade opening is remarkable. Despite trade liberalization in recent years, many Vietnamese exporters ? in particular SMEs ? still face substantial challenges.


Sustainable Tourism for SDGs Program

10.12.2019 - 30.04.2022

The Program promotes sustainable tourism practices. Through better informed tourism stakeholders and more certified businesses, the contribution of the tourism sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be increased. Tourism has the potential to contribute, directly or indirectly to all of the SDGs.


Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, Phase II

01.12.2019 - 31.03.2024

Phase II of SECO?s support to the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) will focus on capacity development to sustainably plan, implement and operate hydropower plants in four selected priority countries (Albania, Colombia, Indonesia, Tajikistan) and on the co-financing of sustainability assessments in all SECO priority countries.


Energy Efficiency in Municipalities

01.12.2019 - 30.04.2025

SECO supports a project managed by the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) aiming at establishing basic municipal energy management and energy planning in smaller Ukrainian cities. These measures improve the energy efficiency and thereby contribute to climate change mitigation in the project cities.


Integrated Urban Development Ukraine II

01.11.2019 - 30.09.2023

SECO supports a project managed by the German Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) aiming at improving the conditions for implementing integrated urban development on national level and at preparing eight cities to the application of integrated urban development concepts in line with European good practice.


UNDP Strenghtening SMEs Business Membership Organisations in Ukraine Phase II

01.11.2019 - 31.12.2023

The project aims to enhance growth and competitiveness of SMEs and strengthen their voice in Ukraine. The project Strengthening SMEs Business Membership Organization Phase II is the continuation of the previous phase implemented in Ukraine between 2015-2018. The project is implemented by UNDP.


IFC: Financial Inclusion for Growth Ukraine

01.11.2019 - 31.12.2023

The Financial Inclusion for Growth Ukraine Project aims to improve access and responsible usage of financial services by the population and SMEs in remote areas and strive for a better financial inclusion (FI) in the country. The project is implemented by the International Finance Corporation.

Object 841 – 852 of 971