Discover how the Towns Action Network (TAN) empowers changemakers in South African small towns to improve local economies through partnerships and shared learning. Our action-based network fosters local partnerships that leverage community strengths, inspires joint efforts to revitalize economies through collaborative action, and changes the narrative about small towns through storytelling. Connect with fellow changemakers to unlock the potential for sustainable change.
Collaborative action for Small Town Regeneration in South Africa
Small towns are an important but often neglected part of South Africa’s socio-economic landscape. Thriving small towns therefore mean resilience and growth across the country. Explore what the EDP team has learned from convening the Towns Action Network.
Get involved in TAN’
TAN newsletter
Sign up for the TAN newsletter that’s packed with member opportunities, upcoming events, and top resources for changemakers in small towns.’
Sign up to the TAN newsletter here.
Previous newsletters:
Issue #6 (April 2024)
Issue #5 (November 2023)
Issue #4 (Augest 2023)
Issue #3 (July 2023)
Issue #2 (November 2022)
Issue #1 (September 2022)
TAN Gatherings
Quarterly gatherings bring the full network together to share learnings and best practices.
Previous Gatherings:
December Gathering (1 December 2022)
Session recording | Report
September Gathering (21 September 2022)
Session recording | Report
May Gathering (19 May 2022)
Session recording | Report
Launch of TAN (2 March 2022)
Session recording | Report
TAN resources
TAN Offers and Needs Catalogue: Interactive form providing opportunities for TAN members around partnership building, vertical and horizontal learning exchange and skills transfer.
TAN page on uKESA: An easily accessible online repository that shares information and networking opportunities relating to the built environment. The TAN page contains media articles, research papers and speeches related to small towns and local government.
Want to join TAN?
The Towns Action Network is open to any organisation or individual involved in small town regeneration and governance in South Africa. This includes residents and businesses, municipal officials, civil society, community organisations, researchers, media and other changemakers.
We encourage active participation in this voluntary network to foster sustainable change and impact.
Network benefits include:
- Quarterly online gatherings, with post-event recordings, reports and resources shared.
- Updates and opportunities to get involved in local partnership projects.
- Insights and advice from TAN Support Partners.
- A regular newsletter including network highlights, features, updates and more.
For more information, contact: Nobungcwele Mbem, EDP Project Lead, nobungcwele@wcedp.co.za
Towns of change
See where TAN members are active across South Africa.
Find the geographical locations and descriptions of small-town changemaking initiatives on this interactive map.
TAN Partners
The Towns Action Network is convened by the EDP and supported by seven organisations leading the regeneration of small towns in South Africa, with funding from the Finnish Fund for Local Cooperation.
