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for new & emerging industries & technologieschanging skills needsbusiness adaptabilityefficient resource use

What’s in a name?

NIKELA ORIGINATES FROM ZULU/XHOSA MEANING
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ABOUT

Born out of Urban-Econ Development Economists, a leading consulting firm in the field of development economics with a track record of more than 35 years, Urban-Econ:NIKELA brings with it the expertise, experience, professionalism and trust engendered by the Urban-Econ brand.

Urban-Econ:NIKELA’s strategic intent is to offer governments, state institutions, development organisations and the private sector targeted advice and future-focused solutions that optimise the efficiency of existing and planned interventions, initiatives and programmes in response to the changing environment.

By applying critical thinking, Urban-Econ:NIKELA provides forward-looking, data-driven and results-oriented solutions that contribute towards:

  • the creation of a capable workforce;
  • the development of high performing enterprises;
  • the integration of technological advancements in service delivery and production;
  • optimising the cost-efficiency and -effectiveness of programme spending and implementation;
  • the promotion of social inclusion; and
  • the adherence to principles of optimal resource utilisation.

Our solutions are designed in partnership with our clients and take due cognisance of their human resource, financial and infrastructural capacities and capabilities.

SERVICES

  • Skills Development
  • Enterprise & entrepreneurship development
  • New & emerging industries
  • Environmental economics
  • Implementation efficiency
  • People-centred development

Sector-based research and analysis of future skills and occupational needs in the post-school education and training environment, in response to the changing world of work.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Future skills & occupational needs assessments
  • Sector skills planning
  • Skills programme impact assessment & evaluations
  • Programme beneficiary tracing

Assessment and solutions towards successful and sustainable business and cooperative development.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Enterprise profiling
  • Enterprise & entrepreneurship research & strategy development
  • Business advisory and support
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Sustainability reporting

Insights into new and emerging industries and future-focused solutions.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Emerging industry profiles and outlooks
  • Commercialisation roadmaps
  • Localisation plans
  • Supplier development plans

Solutions for environmental challenges and scarce resource utilisation, premised on economic and people-centered approaches.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Impact assessments
  • Green jobs studies
  • Policy and institutional investigations

Assessment of value for money and knowledge profiling of public and private sector initiatives.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Institutional framework development
  • Benchmark assessments
  • Baseline, mid-term and summative evaluations
  • Satisfaction & perception surveys
  • Knowledge profiling

Data-driven strategies towards socio-economic regeneration of under-resourced communities.

SERVICES & PRODUCTS
  • Social & community development plans
  • Socio-economic regeneration strategies
  • Youth development strategies
  • Gender equality studies

OUR PEOPLE

Urban-Econ:NIKELA is led by a management team with a combined experience of over thirty years in consultancy, research and development-related activities.

Our qualified consultants come from the fields of social sciences, development studies, economics, technology management, finance, policy, planning and international relations.

Joheen Agenbach
Managing Director
Elena Broughton
Director: Climate, Environment and Emerging Technologies
Trudi Smit
Manager: Skills and Enterprise Development
Learnmore Muchemwa
Research Consultant
Lucinda de Leeuw
Research Consultant
Wandile Mlilo
Research Consultant
Thabani Madlala
Research Consultant
Rememberance Chimeri
Research Consultant
Megan Whittaker
Research Consultant
Jonathan Thurling
Research Consultant
Ignatius Mathole
Technical Assistant
Bathabile Nkhata
Technical Assistant

WE CONTRIBUTE

KNOWLEDGEEXPERTISEEXPERIENCEPASSION FOR RESEARCH

WE STAND FOR

Integrity

Consistent ethical, fair and honest conduct that builds trust

Professionalism

The highest quality standards and reliability in everything we do

Passion

A thirst for the optimal solution premised on research & applied critical thinking

Engaging

Participatory and open interaction

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