Co-Operative Governance in South Africa PDF

Co-operative Governance in South Africa The overview  What is Co-operative Governance? Government where various institutions are required to assist one another. For example, in South Africa, the three spheres of government (National, Provincial and Local) work together in a su...

Co-operative Governance in South Africa The overview  What is Co-operative Governance? Government where various institutions are required to assist one another. For example, in South Africa, the three spheres of government (National, Provincial and Local) work together in a supportive manner. Chapter three of the Constitution (RSA, 1996) promotes co-operative governance.  Co-operative Governance in South Africa Principles of Co-operative Governance All three spheres of Government must: o Preserve the peace, national unity and the indivisibility of the Republic. o Secure the well-being of the republic. o Provide effective, transparent, accountable and coherent government for the republic as a whole. o Be loyal to the Constitution, the Republic and its people. o Respect the Constitutional status, institutions, powers and functions of government in the other spheres. o Not assume any powers or functions except those conferred on them in terms of the Constitution.  Co-operative Governance in South Africa o Co-operate with one another in mutual trust and good faith by:  Fostering friendly relationships;  Assisting and supporting one another; and  Informing one another of, and consulting one another on, matters of common interests.  Co-operative Governance in South Africa Question for the Reaction Paper In the light of co-operative governance, which requires various institutions to collaborate with each other in a mutual and co-operative manner, critically discuss the roles and functions of the three spheres of government in the provision of services. Use reality-based examples to substantiate your discussions. Due Date: 13 October 2022 (2– 3 Pages)  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY What is Public Policy? It is the statement of intent or the course of action adopted or pursued by government or non government actors to achieve a particular goal. It is also the process in which the government translates political visions into programs and actions to deliver outcomes. It is the determination of the objectives in the Public sector, e.g.  What is intended?  How the objectives are to achieved?  Who will take action?  What resources will be used?  Where and when action will be taken Purposive/goal oriented rather than random or chance behaviour.  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY It explains government activities – e.g. supplying public services. It is an authoritative process which requires consensus and compromise between contending groups. Policy formulation derives from dissatisfaction with the existing situation, that is, the gap between existing and desired situation.  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY Critical Questions for Developing a Policy Is there any justification for changing the existing policy? Is there a gap between the existing situation and desired situation? If there are unsatisfied needs and desires, what is the extent thereof? Which needs and desires must be satisfied first? Which parties must be consulted in respect of the gap?  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY Stages of Policy Making Policy making process consist of the following stages. (i) Agenda Setting This is the first stage in the policy process and it deals with identifying policy problem. Community members may identify a problem which is a course of dissatisfaction and inform their local representatives (councillors, ward committee members, traditional leaders etc.) Local representatives may decide to put the matter in the agenda for council meeting (merit of the problem).  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY (ii) Policy Formulation From the problem that has been identified and made it onto agenda, policy must be formulated. Different actors may play a role in policy making. (iii) Policy Adoption Once policy recommendations have been discussed by actors, they are referred to the council for approval and adoption. (iv) Policy Implementation Once a policy has been adopted, it must be translated into action. (Implementation) Implementation is an essential phase during which critical decisions are made, which ultimately determine the policy’s effectiveness.  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY (v) Policy Evaluation Policy makers may evaluate the impact of the policy, to see if it solves the problem identified by the community. The purpose is to take necessary corrective steps to ensures public accountability.  KEY ISSUES IN PUBLIC POLICY Policy Making should be guided by the following factors: Political supremacy Dictates of democracy Fair play: Fairness and reasonableness Efficiency Public accountability.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA What is Monitoring and Evaluation? Monitoring and Evaluation are two distinct, but interrelated, activities. Monitoring and Evaluation is a process that helps organisations to improve performance and achieve their goals. It aims to improve current and future management of outputs, outcomes and impacts.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA Monitoring : refers to the indicators that provide management and stakeholders of an on-going progress and achievements of organisational objectives. Evaluation: refers to the exercise that attempts to systematically and objectively assess progress towards the achievements of goals The most important aspect in evaluation is to understand if organisations are using appropriate mechanisms to reach their desired objectives.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA The Background of M&E in South Africa The concept of M&E in government was introduced by the former president, Thabo Mbeki in his State of the Nation Address in 2004. “The government is also in the process of refining our system of Monitoring and Evaluation, to improve the performance of our system of governance and the quality of our outputs, providing an early warning system and a mechanism to respond speedily to problems, as they arise” Thabo Mbeki (2004)  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA The Department of Monitoring & Evaluation (DPME) was officially launched in January 2010 in the Office of the Presidency, with a specific focus on the continuous improvement in service delivery through performance, monitoring and evaluation. It focusses of efficiency, effectiveness and impacts.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA Focus Areas of the DPME The DPME was introduces to carry out the following 6 functions: (i) The Outcomes Approach The concerted effort in the second decade of democracy is to improve service delivery implementation. Therefore, the outcome approach is the transformation initiative which is geared towards changing the way in which government works. It also aims to promote the culture of inter-departmental and inter-governmental relations. MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA (ii) Delivery Agreements In January 2010, the Cabinet approved and adopted the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) with the following priorities: Education, Health, employment, infrastructure, skills, rural development, local government, environment, public service, human settlements, and internal and external relations.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA (iii) Political Accountability Ministers should comply with performance agreements which require them to deliver on government priorities. State departments are required to draft their strategic plans which reflect their commitment in the Delivery Agreements.  MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA (iv) Monitoring of the Implementation of Delivery Agreements The implementation of Delivery Agreements are monitored by Ministers and Executive Members of the Provincial Council. (v) Monitoring of the Performance of State Departments and Municipalities. The Management and Performance Assessment Tool (MPAT) was introduced by the DPME to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of state departments municipalities. MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) IN SOUTH AFRICA (vi) Frontline Service Delivery (FLSD) Underlying purpose- facilitate improvements in service delivery. Specific attention on monitoring the experience of the citizens when receiving public services.  INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS What is Innovation? In general terms, innovation in governance is a creative idea which is successfully implemented to solve a pressing public problem. It is an act of conceiving and implementing a new way of achieving results and/or performing work. It is an significant change or departure from the traditional way of doing things. It refers to new policy designs, and new standard operating procedures by public institutions to address public policy problems. (Adriana & Berucci ,2006)  INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS The South African Public Sector Journal (2013) states that: “Innovation is about a complete departure from conventional and traditional ways of doing things to a platform where speed, efficiency, and effectiveness are the operating words”. In addition, it is about: Breaking free from monopoly; Thinking outside from the confines of the proverbial box; Changing from the old and familiar to new; From ordinary to extra-ordinary.  INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS Types of Innovation There are different types of innovation in public administration, including: (i) Institutional Innovation: the renewal of established institutions or the creation of new institutions. (ii) Organizational Innovation: the introduction of new working procedures or management techniques in public administration. (iii) Process Innovation: it focusses on the improvement of the quality of public service delivery. (iv) Conceptual Innovation: it focusses on the introduction of governance (e.g. interactive policy-making and engaged governance)  INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS Why Should Governments Innovate? Since the beginning of the new millennium, governments have been under pressure to respond to the demands of their citizens and global changes. Governments need to tackle a number of complex social and economic issues, such as poverty, diseases, unemployment, inequality, poor education systems and environmental degradation. With these challenges, they need to re-adjust their policies and skills to effectively integrate into global economic standards. Governments need to use their resources and build capacity creatively by enlisting the support of the private sector and civil society in service delivery.  INNOVATION IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS They need to make public administration more accountable, responsive and effective by promoting a more citizen-oriented public administration. They need to respond more adequately to the demands from citizens for greater participation –because, citizens no longer perceive themselves as ‘passive consumers’ of government services, but as part of the solution to deal with emerging issues.