eThekwini Municipality’s dynamic informal economy sector plays a pertinent role in sustaining the livelihoods of the unemployed, as it encourages entrepreneurship and alleviates poverty. In the spirit of city-to-city learning and knowledge sharing, the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) in partnership with eThekwini’s Business Support and Markets Unit, UN-Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) hosted its 4th Informal Economy Learning Exchange with a delegation from Benadir Regional Administration: Mogadishu, Somalia, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium from 25-27 January 2017.
The learning event aimed to contribute towards the successful operation of markets in Mogadishu by enhancing the understanding of market management, operation and policy for participants, using eThekwini Municipality as a case study. Participants also had the opportunity to learn from the City of Johannesburg in a similar session preceding the Durban leg. The MILE run learning exchange featured study visits to markets in eThekwini Municipality such as the Durban Fresh Produce Market, the Bangladesh Market and other prominent markets across the city. Participants witnessed first-hand the infrastructure that the city has in place to assist informal traders.
With facilitated discussion sessions and informative presentations by eThekwini’s Business Support and Markets team, the learning event challenged the participants to think about how SDG 8 could be translated into meaningful action on the ground and enabled the delegation from Mogadishu to enhance their capacity to effectively and efficiently manage markets in their region.
For presentations from this particular learning exchange and other learning events, please visit MILE's website.
MILE: a Knowledge Management initiative from eThekwini Municipality
MILE uses platforms such as Learning Exchanges and Peer-to-Peer learning exchanges to share knowledge and good practices to enhance the capacity of local government practitioners within the African continent. These activities are carried out in line with UCLG’s learning agenda in Africa.
Later this year MILE will be present at the CIB annual meeting, which will take place in Durban, South Africa.
By: Janice Lee Moodley