History

Since its inception in 2001, the SA LED Network has grown from an idea to a functioning network with a national and provincial footprint, a management structure, a membership base, provincial events and a knowledge & information portal.

How it all began

The SA LED Network has its roots in an informal meeting that followed a LED conference in Welkom in 2001. When the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) started their LED project in 2003, they were approached to give technical support to the establishment of the network.

The GTZ LED project facilitated a number of training events where trainees confirmed the need for a specific network for local economic development practitioners.

GTZ funded an inception meeting of the proposed network in November 2004. The network was initiated and a working group appointed. The working group took responsibility for establishing and registering a Trust and initiated the design of a website.

On 1st of January 2011, the three former German Development Organisations DED, GTZ and InWent merged into the new “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The organisation combines the different approaches and instruments of DED, GTZ and InWent.

Further Developments

In 2006 the SA LED Network Trust was registered and the website went online in 2005.

Provincial and national information and training events have been well-attended. During this period some strong provincial chapters have emerged (Western Cape and KZN).

There has been a steady growth of new members. International interest and membership has increased. In October 2007 the LED Network exceeded the 200 member-target.

Since October 2007 the German Development Service (DED) supported the network by availing personnel and technical support to the SA LED Network. From beginning of November 2008 the value offerings of the SA LED Network have been steadily improved. Amongst others a newsletter has been designed and frequent newsflashes inform the members about latest events, jobs and documents that have been uploaded to the website. In August 2008 the SA LED Network started a process to enhance the Knowledge and Information platform and to use web 2.0 technology.

End of 2008 an Executive Manager was appointed, with the aim that the SA LED Network becomes an independent growing institution.

Latest Developments

On 1st February 2010, the SA LED Network went into a partnership with the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and is now a dedicated project of SALGA.

The Website (which was initially on a paid membership base) was opened to the public on the 1st of March 2010 to let all LED practitioners benefit from the knowledge sharing and communication around LED issues & topics. On the same day the network had 482 members and this number is growing quickly. 

In February 2011, the SA LED Network launched its new website, offering a brand new design and a lot of expanded functions to its members such as promoted partners on the frontpage, an advanced search method for all the content in our online library, a new section for open LED discussions as well as a section for each municipality giving them the opportunity to present their approaches and projects in LED as well as related content. In October 2011, the SA LED Network had more than 2 700 registered members.