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Figure 12 presents the proportion of senior officials who reported the presence of innovation champions within their municipality. Just over half (53%) indicated that their municipality has designated innovation champions – individuals tasked with promoting or facilitating innovation – while 47% reported that they do not have such champions. This reflects a modest level of institutional embedding, suggesting that while innovation may be recognised, the formal role of champions is not yet widespread across all municipalities.
Figure 12. Existence of innovation champions in municipalities
Figure 13 presents the proportion of senior officials who reported whether their municipality faces difficulties in developing innovation plans. Responses were nearly evenly split: 51% of officials reported that they face difficulties, while 49% indicated no difficulties. This suggests that while some municipalities are progressing in their innovation planning, others continue to encounter significant barriers – such as limited capacity, unclear mandates, or lack of coordination – that hinder innovation development.
Figure 13. Difficulties in developing innovation plans
Officials were asked about the sources of funding for their innovation projects. The most frequently cited source was municipality-owned fundraising, followed by national and provincial government funding. Additionally, a significant number of officials reported support from higher education and research institutions, businesses, and non- governmental organisations (NGOs). While less common, some municipalities also receive assistance from foreign governments and other foreign donors, indicating a degree of international support for local innovation efforts.
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MUNICIPAL INNOVATION MATURITY INDEX (MIMI)