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Improving Water Services Provision Through a National Municipal Benchmarking Initiative Benchmarking our way to better services, more effectively, more efficiently. Water Services Leadership Group 18 November 2011. Water Services Benchmarking.
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Improving Water Services Provision Through a National Municipal Benchmarking InitiativeBenchmarking our way to better services, more effectively, more efficiently Water Services Leadership Group 18 November 2011
Water Services Benchmarking “A tool for performance improvement through systematic search and adaptation of leading practices” IWA’s Task Group on Benchmarking • Beyond comparative ranking • To performance improvement
Background to South African Water Services Benchmarking • 1st National Benchmarking Initiative ran from 2005 to 2008 • Led by DWA, SALGA, WRC • Aimed to improve performance & support more sustainable water services delivery • 67 municipalities by 2008 • KPIs from the Strategic Framework for Water Services • Laid the basis for the RPMS • 2010: SALGA / WRC review of water services benchmarking • 2011: SALGA / WRC revive benchmarking to support municipal performance improvement: water services
Why revive benchmarking now? • Improve performance, with an emphasis on improving service delivery • Measurement, analysis, comparison and shared learning
Why revive benchmarking now? “Service delivery is a by-product of effective, efficient and economical processes that are informed by strategic direction, resource planning and implementation” Treasury MFMA Circular, October 2011 • Measuring and comparing operational and business performance provides feedback on where and how to improve service delivery • Internal comparison, month by month, quarter by quarter • External comparison with peers
What’s the difference between this and the RPMS? • Regulatory benchmarking – e.g. RPMS • Why: External assessment of performance with mandatory requirements - and a big stick • Someone else decides what matters • Performance benchmarking – Municipal Benchmarking Initiative • Why: You want to improve your own operational and business performance, and see how you compare with others • You decide what matters, and where and how to improve, based on your own needs and objectives • For Municipalities, by Municipalities, to the Benefit of Municipal Services
Key Features of the new MBI • High-profile, SALGA-led initiative • For municipalities, by municipalities, to the benefit of municipalities • Aligned to International Best Practise • Initially Focused on Key Themes • Municipalities choose themes • Well aligned to Sector processes • Department of Water Affairs • Treasury • DCoG • Presidency • etc
We appreciate the difficulties of struggling municipalities and have strategies for dealing with this • Maximum inclusiveness, through a stratified, modular approach to performance reporting • Surfaces & uses Existing Municipal data • Support provided in identifying relevant KPIs and building data assessment systems • Focuses on progressive municipal performance improvement • Core common indicators for external comparison • Knowledge sharing and peer networking through local, regional and national forums • Web-based database, able to generate automatic easily readable reports
Topic Module: including Dashboard, supportive resources and tools
Allows for and guides choice of YOUR causative variables as to chosen KPIs • Helps ensure you are tracking YOUR critical performance improvement dials
Where is Project Now? • Phase 1: Review & Design Phase • Phase 2: Initiation amongst all WSAs • Phase 3: Institutionalization & Consolidation • Phase 4: Iterative & Ongoing Strengthening
In Conclusion • How am I doing? • Against my own previous performance • Against my peers • Recognition – of achievements and challenges • Feedback on the impact of adjustments • Learn from peers • ‘communities of practice’ • Help and support • Build understanding of what makes a difference to performance, and how to replicate it more widely • Will lead to substantial improvements in water services delivery …