Economic Development in Africa

Gestalt works with governments and stakeholders across Africa, as well as the European Union and the South African Government, among others, to implement its bespoke sustainable local economic development models in a number of different locations.

Models include enterprise development, unlocking procurement transformation to build new SMMEs, aquaculture, high-value agricultural crops, mining, road and housing construction and brick making plants. All these opportunities are built on the framework of the Gestalt Rural Economic Development model.

The capacity building model applied to investment projects in Africa aims to identify what infrastructure or services are needed; conduct a skills audit; secure funding; implement the required infrastructure development along with management support; train people in the skills they need to work within that project; and facilitate a phased-in process of community ownership and management.

Above all, Gestalt promotes the local manufacture of materials, given that we regard local manufacturing and production capacity key to economic development and sustainability. Government’s role is to procure the services provided by its people, and the people of a country should be empowered to generate their own economic growth.