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Update on Transversal Public Service Issues. Presentation to the Select Committee of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs 8 March 2011. PRESENTATIONS. SPS- dpsa CDW- dpsa Implementation of Batho Pele Policy- dpsa Role of PALAMA-PALAMA Anti-Corruption Unit- dpsa
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Update on Transversal Public Service Issues Presentation to the Select Committee of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs 8 March 2011
PRESENTATIONS • SPS- dpsa • CDW- dpsa • Implementation of Batho Pele Policy- dpsa • Role of PALAMA-PALAMA • Anti-Corruption Unit- dpsa • Preparations for 2011 Salary Negotiations- dpsa
Presentation outline • Introduction • Background • A country perspective on a SPS • SPS Mission • SPS Strategic Objectives • Way forward for 2011/2012 • Process Map to Parliament
Introduction • The broad goal of establishing a single public service is ultimately about aligning & harmonizing the machinery of state across the three spheres so as to more effectively fulfill service delivery needs • An integrated public service with harmonious systems, conditions of service and norms will reduce fragmentation and promote more efficient coordination between the different spheres of government • Mobility of staff between the spheres thereby facilitating optimal deployment of skills and allocation of functions
Introduction • The SPS is seen as a vehicle that will enhance and augment government’s capacity to improve and accelerate service delivery which is a key theme that cuts across all of the outcomes of government • The mechanism that will allow for this is the framework legislation for the Single Public Service
Background • A draft Public Administration Management Bill (PAM Bill) to provide for the organisation, management, functioning and personnel related matters in administration in the three spheres of government was prepared, consulted upon and introduced in Parliament in June 2008 • The Bill was subsequently withdrawn from Parliament in November 2008 to ensure an extended extra Parliamentary consultation process • There was a need to complete consultative processes especially at the NEDLAC level • The Bill was also tabled in Parliament at a point which would have crossed the terms of different Legislative and Executive authorities • The Bill had to be reintroduced
Constitutional Imperatives • Provides that South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state & that government is constituted as national, provincial & local spheres of government which are distinctive, interdependent & interrelated (unitary) • Determines basic values & principles governing public administration • Requires all spheres of government to provide effective, efficient, transparent, accountable & coherent government to secure well-being of people & progressive realization of their constitutional rights
A Country Perspective • Three spheres are required to respect each other’s territory powers and functions while striving to work together to maximize service delivery impact • Citizens rights are enshrined and the State must take reasonable and other measures to achieve the progressive realization of these rights • Increased determination to continue to transform and modernize state institutions (service delivery protests & turn-around strategy for LG)
A Country Perspective • Need better coordination & integration as fragmented, silo-based delivery of services causes duplication & wastage • Need for greater convenience to people in the delivery of services & improve quality of services especially those in under-serviced rural areas • Need to maximize resources through deployment of officials where most needed
SPS Mission • To strategically align the institutions that comprise the machinery of the developmental state so that their implementation efforts complement one another through the introduction of enabling public administration legislation and policy frameworks for a Single Public Service • To deepen integrated service delivery by creating service delivery points (single window) from which citizens can access a basket of services. Multiple institutions are to collaborate on creating a ‘single window of access’ • To create a common ethos of service delivery across the three spheres inspired by the basic values and principles contained in Section 195 of the Constitution and principles of Batho Pele
SPS Mission • To create common norms and standards for human resource management and development across the three spheres to facilitate mobility of personnel across the spheres
SPS Strategic Objectives • To create a common culture of service delivery across the 3 spheres, based on the precepts of Batho Pele, in order to ensure a consistently high standard of service • To establish common norms and standards for employment in the Single Public Service, including employment practices and employee relations frameworks and mandating arrangements • To provide a mechanism for the transfer of functions and staff between institutions or spheres of government, within the framework provided by the Constitution and the Labour Relations Act • To provide for an anti-corruption strategy and standards of conduct for the SPS
SPS Strategic Objectives • Create seamless and integrated service delivery through single window approach • To create a single senior management service cadre, thereby facilitating the mobility of these managers within the Single Public Service • To provide a framework for remuneration and conditions of service for the Single Public Service • To provide for a human resource development strategy for the Single Public Service and the development of an integrated skills database to support human resource planning • Interoperability of ICT transversal systems, financial & human resource systems
Content • Introduction and Background • Rationale • Role of DPSA in Service Delivery • Role of CDW in Service Delivery • Achievements and Challenges for CDWs • Co-ordination of CDWs • Review of CDW Programme • Refocused CDWP
Introduction and Background • In 2003 the Cabinet concluded that a gap existed between the delivery of services and the utilization of those services by the poor communities and that this urgently needed to be bridged by some kind of intervention or institution aimed at bringing the government closer to the people • Accordingly the January 2003 the Cabinet Lekgotla resolved to establish the Community Development Workers Programme (CDWP).
Rationale for the establishment of the CDWP • The Cabinet Memo of June 2003 and August 2004 affirmed the CDWs as the public servants of a special kind. “Government will create a public service echelon of multi-skilled community development workers who will maintain a direct contact with people where these masses live. We are determined to ensure that government goes to the people so that we sharply improve the quality of outcomes of public expenditure intended to raise the standards of living of our people”. • The focus of the CDWP was to enable communities to make better use of government services and benefits, to foster community development as well as to improve the quality of life of citizens. • In the 2009 Cabinet Lekgotla it was further resolved that the CDWP should be intensified in the War Against Poverty Campaign
The role of DPSA in service delivery • Lead the transformation of the state by promoting: • a high standard of professional ethics, • the efficient and effective use of public resources, • the developmental state which includes participation of people in its activities, • delivering services in an impartial and transparent manner and respond to the needs of citizens. • Developed the Government-wide Access Strategy (2006) • i.e. Public Participation Focus Weeks, Urban Malls, Community Development Workers, Thusong Service Centers and Batho Pele Gateway Portals.
The role of CDWs in service delivery The functions of community development workers are as follows: • Communicate government and other information to the communities • Feedback to government re. community experiences of service & governance • Early warnings to government of any reduction in service standards and/or performance • Report any corruption or irregularity in of government • Facilitate government assistance to community projects where required
The role of CDWs in service delivery The functions of community development workers are as follows: • Facilitate government assistance to community projects where required • Help communities to engage with IDPs and other programmes of government • Maintain communication with CBOs and initiatives of civil society • Promote the principles of Batho Pele and community participation • Improve community linkages to para-statals, NGOs and private donors • Monitor and report significant trends within the communities
Operational achievements and challenges of the CDWP Achievements Challenges Variance in implementation of the CDWP by provinces Funding challenge and limited resources for CDWs The number of CDWs employed per province Career-pathing for CDWs Clarification of roles & responsibilities Common activities carried by other community development workers Poor cooperation and support by the sector departments Guidelines developed are very useful but remain only guidelines Policy gaps • Master Plan implementation • Supporting the War on Poverty Campaign • Completion of National CDW Skills Audit and research • Capacity Building with India training agreement • Implementation of Benchmarked Job Descriptions for CDWs • Implementation of the “Know Your Rights and Responsibilities Campaign” • Establishment & functioning of the CDWP National Task Team (NTT) • Publication of annual Grassroots Innovations case study booklet
Coordination of the CDWP • Cabinet allocated the coordination function to both COGTA and DPSA at national level with respect to their individual mandates. • In this regard, Cabinet specified that “the CDWs must institutionally be based at local level. • CDW Programme should be implemented by the provincial administration, from the office of the Premier or the provincial department of local government. • Department of provincial and Local Government to provide overall programme management including facilitation of funding. • The DPSA to provide support in training and development of a toolkit for community development workers”
Review of the CDWP • The programme has been implemented through guiding frameworks such as the CDW Handbook and Master Plan (2007) although inconsistencies in the interpretation of these guiding frameworks • Review process completed (literature review, consultation with nine provinces and groups of experts in governance, funding, training and career-pathing for CDWs) • Hosting of a national CDWP policy summit in November 2009 (over 350 delegates from all provinces and associated stakeholders participated)
Review of the CDWP • The Summit recommended the adoption of a policy framework that speaks to the following areas: • Funding • Training and Career-Pathing • Location of the Programme • Governance and management structures • Tools of trade
Refocused CDWP • The review further highlighted the need to strengthen the service delivery thrust and to realign the programme architecture around the following three pillars of programme work: • Effective implementation of Government's Access Strategy • Supporting Developmental Local Government • Strengthening the War on Poverty Campaign
Government's Access Strategy • The overall vision of the Access Strategy is to improve the quality and quantity of services accessed by citizens through ensuring that these services are consistent with their needs and aspirations. The Access Strategy is operationalised through a set of access channels, which include: (i) Community Development Workers (CDWs) (ii) Thusong Service Centers (iii) Batho Pele Gateway Portal (iv) Public Participation programmes • CDWs are therefore an integral part of government’s Access Strategy which is championed by the DPSA because it operates across the departments and spheres of government
Supporting Developmental Local Government • Approval of local government turnaround strategy in December 2009. • Focus on the following two of the five strategic objectives (LGTS): • Ensure that municipalities meet basic needs of communities. • Strengthen partnerships between local government, communities and civil society by mobilizing communities and other development partners to partner with municipalities in service delivery and development. • CDWs will work with COGTA to support the above objectives
The Current Role of CDWs in War on Poverty Campaign • CDWs play a support role in the Campaign by: • identifying poor households • developing their profiles • linking these households with government services • monitor progress regarding delivery of service • community and mobilisation to participate in the campaigns
The new role for CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign • Contribute towards the speedy graduation of households in 1128 wards out of extreme poverty by 2014 as envisaged in the Anti-Poverty Strategy • Focus on four nationally-driven projects: • Food security, • Early childhood development, • HIV&AIDS, and • Social protection
The new role for CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign Approach: • Foster compliance and accountability on allocated tasks, resources and agreed outputs as well as the intended outcomes. • Utilise the 3 330 CDWs who are currently employed throughout the country. • Use Provincial and National Task Teams as well the National and Provincial Coordinators • Use Thusong Service Centers
The New Role of CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign ….cont • Area 1: Food Security • National programme will be developed to facilitate access to land for food production from municipalities and Tribal Authorities. • Advise the individual households on how to start their own relevant food gardens for self-reliance. • Facilitate the process in which the produce from the food gardens will be utilized by CBOs involved in HIV/AIDS initiatives and ECD programmes and other initiatives such as feeding schemes as piloted in the Western Cape Province.
The New Role of CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign ….cont Area 2: Early Childhood Development (ECD) • Identify children who are out of the ECD programmes and link them with the crèches • These children will be able to access government services • CDWs will further identify the unregistered crèches and link them with DSD for registration • Assist communities to establish crèches where there is a need
The New Role of CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign ….cont Area 3: HIV and Aids • Contribute to the national HIV/AIDS awareness campaign by disseminating the relevant information on the prevention and management of the HIV&AIDS infected and affected people. • Encourage communities to participate in the national voluntary testing and counseling campaign. • Work with other government departments and civil society structure to ensure that the affected and infected people participate in other poverty eradication programmes
The New Role of CDWs in the War on Poverty Campaign ….cont Area 4: Social Protection • Focus on empowering the rural and farming communities • Intensify the social grants registration drive in these communities (old age, child support and disability grants). • CDWs are utilised in the WOP Campaign as “foot soldiers in the war against poverty, the eyes and ears of the people and defenders of the poor”as they are popularly known.
CDWP Deliverables for 2010/11 Under the implementation of the CDWP, the following deliverables were identified: • Develop a Policy Framework for CDWs • Development of norms and standard guideline for CDWs • Development of training and development plan for CDWs • Finalization of provincial Master Plans • Publications developed and updated
Develop a Policy Framework for CDWs • The CDW policy development process consisted of three phases: (1) literature review (2) a stakeholder consultation processes in all 9 provinces which culminated into a national CDW Policy Summit at which a CDW programme Policy Declaration was adopted; and (3) the development of CDW programme policy framework for approval by Cabinet. • Phases 1 and 2 were successfully completed in 2009 and a draft CDW programme Policy Framework was produced and presented to the internal management structure of the DPSA for inputs. • In 2010 a process of developing regulations on Community Development and Public Participation, which will also give policy direction to the CDW programme, was embarked upon. • Draft Regulations have been finalised and submitted for approval
Development of Norms and Standards for CDWs • A process of developing a CDW Guideline on Citizen Engagement was embarked upon in August 2010. • The purpose of this guideline is to set the parameters (norms and standards) for the effective implementation of the CDW programme with regards to citizen engagement. • A discussion document was developed for guiding consultations with key stakeholders. • Six of the nine provinces were consulted by the end of February 2011. Consultations with Mpumalanga, North West and Free State will be held in March 2011.
Development of Training and Development plans for CDWs • In line with the findings of the 2008 CDW National Skills Audit, a comprehensive training plan is being developed for CDWs. • In June 2010, PALAMA and DPSA embarked on a process of developing a training module for CDWs, which will serve as a just-in-time intervention to address urgent training needs for CDWs to be able to effectively execute their daily duties. • PALAMA conducted focus groups with CDWs in Limpopo province to test their varying skills levels. A draft training module is available and will be piloted in the Free State province in March 2011.
Development of Training and Development plan for CDWs • To enable CDWs to embark on further education opportunities, a competency framework has been developed to guide institutions of higher learning in the construction of curricula for Community Development qualifications. • The CDW National Task Team also continues to popularise the India Training Exchange Programme amongst CDWs. For this current year, 64 applications from CDWs were submitted to the Indian High Commission for consideration in the training programme under the Indian Technical Economic Cooperation (ITEC).
Recommendations It is recommended that both the Department of Co-operative Governance and DPSA – • Continue to plan for Community Workers within their respective legal mandates • Develop the necessary and respective legislative frameworks for their respective mandates • Provide development support to the CDW Programme in an integrated manner
Conclusion • The realignment and revival of the CDW programme responds to the call made by President Zuma during his 2010 State of the Nations Address that: ….“We said it would be a state that responds to the needs and aspirations of the people, and which performs better and faster. This year, 2010, shall be a year of action. The defining feature of this administration will be that it knows where people live, understands their needs, and responds faster” • Let 2010 indeed be a year of community development in action!
OVERVIEW • Legal Background • Batho Pele Value System • Challenges with Service Delivery within the Public Service • Batho Pele Revitalisation Programme to Address Challenges • Batho Pele Impact Assessment Programme • Co-ordination of Batho Pele • Conclusion
The Constitution, 1996 (Chapter 10:Public Administration) • A high standard of professional ethics must be promoted and maintained. • Efficient, economic and effective use of resources must be promoted. • Services must be provided impartially, fairly, equitably and without bias. • People’s needs must be responded to, and the public must be encouraged to participate in policy-making. • Public administration must be accountable. • Transparency must be fostered by providing the pubic with timely, accessible and accurate information.
White Paperon the Transformation of the Public Service (WPTPS), 1995 To establish a policy framework to guide the introduction and implementation of new policies aimed at transforming the SA Public Service This policy sets out 8 transformation priorities, amongst which Transforming Service Delivery is regarded as key. This policy also declares that the Public Service should be… • People-centric • People MUST come first • Batho Pele “ A better life for all”
BACKGROUND • The Batho Pele policy (BP White Paper, 1997) was endorsed by Cabinet in 1997 • It was re-confirmed in 2004, and a Revitalisation Strategy put in place targeting all three (3) spheres of govt • In terms of Khaedu, this Cabinet decision included that all SMS members must be deployed annually to the coalface of service delivery as part of their performance agreements