The LGSP has committed to providing targeted support to the 23 municipalities involved in the project. This will assist the municipalities to reach their targets via a “learning by doing” approach.  Specifically, targeted support comprises:

• Assisting municipal managers, committee chairpersons, financial officials and key personnel / councillors to improve strategic planning skills, procurement skills and other technical skills as identified by them;
• Designing and implementing the following systems: Performance Management, Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Procurement and Community Participation ; and
• Conceiving and implementing effective revenue enhancement programmes. 

While the targeted support follows a common methodology for dealing with a particular problem, the specific requirements of the municipalities will lead to variations in the implementation process and in localised support.  

The providers of targeted support have a range of responsibilities.  They are responsible for developing or adapting the required learning materials to align them with the priorities identified in the municipal action plans.  Training is delivered via workshops at both district and local levels, and the timing of the workshops is planned jointly by the support providers and the municipalities.  Skill levels of participants are assessed before and after the workshop session in order to gauge the effectiveness of the exercise and to encourage continuous improvement in the efforts of both trainers and participants.  Feedback is also obtained from participants after each workshop

In addition, hands-on mentoring services are provided by subject matter experts to individual municipal representatives, as and when such a need is identified.   The mentoring takes the form of on-site visits as well as a “help-line” facility, whereby the service provider may be reached at any time via telephone or email.