The role of local economic development in urban poverty alleviation : the case of Mbabane, Eswatini

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of local economic development in urban poverty alleviation in Mbabane town in Eswatini. This was done by interviewing various stakeholders that are involved in LED processes which are the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the Municipal Council of Mbabane, the Commonwealth Local Government Forum and Msunduza community beneficiaries from LED initiatives and programmes. This study also examined the different definitions, debates, and the nature of the LED discourse in Eswatini and briefly, in other countries. This study is important because it fills the gap in knowledge on LED in Eswatini. The study followed a qualitative research approach and used purposive and snowball sampling to get data. Furthermore, the study investigated the pro-poor model and the pro-growth model and looked at how the Eswatini setting manifests itself within these models. The results found were that even though LED processes in Mbabane benefit the poor in a number of positive ways, there are still great strides to be made in terms of LED policy formation, capacity building, knowledge sharing and institutionalizing LED effectively at national government level in Eswatini.