Stakeholder Empowerment & Public Participation

1. Stakeholder Empowerment &Public Participation Liane Greeff

2. Introduction • Welcome the R104 M allocated to Stakeholder Empowerment in the Budget • Concerned that it is only explicit under WRM • Increasing collaboration between members of the SAWC and Government – concern with difficulties in accessing funds internet:http://www.emg.org.za

3. SAWC meetings with the Minister & Parliament • Positive experience • Ministry allocated R15 000 per meetings which EMG has managed • Past two years – SAWC has met with the Minister every six months • Regular meetings with Parliament – appreciated special meeting on FBW internet:http://www.emg.org.za

4. Our thoughts on Stakeholder Empowerment • Compared to other Departments DWAF is trying much harder • Seems to take Stakeholder Empowerment seriously • BUT • Money could be more effectively spent • There could be greater involvement of civil society in defining and structuring participation and empowerment processes internet:http://www.emg.org.za

5. Difficulty in Accessing Funds for Existing Projects of Collaboration • SA Dams & Reparations Audit • SA Initiative on the WCD • Water Leaks Programme – Cape Town • Berg River Project internet:http://www.emg.org.za

6. SA Dams & Reparations Audit • Audit of 10 dams in terms of outstanding reparations issues • Team of four from SAWC put forward a proposal • Six months later given to a consultant ‘engineer’ at much higher rates due to tendering procedures internet:http://www.emg.org.za

7. SA Initiative on WCD • Collaboration between Govt, NGOs, dam affected, Eskom, Utilities, DBSA etc • Annual budget • Annual Forum Costs R150 000 incl dam affected attending the Forum • Dam affected to meetings annually R50 000 • DWAF contriutes personnel time BUT has no funds to contribute to the process internet:http://www.emg.org.za

8. Water Leaks • Initiative of W. Cape EJNF Water Caucus to fix leaks in Khayelitsha • Regular meetings with City of CT and DWAF • Has potential to lead to collaboration in water services and water management • Requested financial support over six months ago with no results • Yet there is money available for Consultants at far higher rates internet:http://www.emg.org.za

9. Public Participation Exercises which could be improved • Masibambane Somerset West Meeting - 5 Star Hotel vs Khayelitsha Taxi - Process and substance issues concurrently – choose between gender / civil society involvement and input on issues - Ad hoc invitation list (no institutional memory) • NWRS Strategy Participation Exercise - DWAF process vs Civil Society Process • Information not being channeled through SAWC (plus other networks) internet:http://www.emg.org.za

10. Questions • How do we participate in the Stakeholder Empowerment Sub-Programme more effectively • How can tendering processes be NGO friendly • Consultants not always necessary or appropriate • Is there money set aside in the water services for this as well?? Where?? internet:http://www.emg.org.za

11. Recommendations • Include a ‘qualitative’ indicator for Stakeholder Empowerment (p986) • Eg not numbers but quality, effectiveness and continuity of engagement • Support civil society processes to give input into policy and legislation rather than civil society only being invitees at govt meetings internet:http://www.emg.org.za