DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

1. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on the Financing Policy 7 November 2001 Department of Social Development

2. MINMEC Review • MINMEC decision to review Financing Policy in February 2001 • Review was motivated by: • Concerns raised by internal and external stakeholders, including Portfolio Committee • MINMEC observations about protracted process of implementation • Confusion about status of the Financing Policy Department of Social Development

3. Terms of Reference • MINMEC Task Team: • MEC Free State (Convener) • MEC Northern Province • MEC Mpumalanga • MEC Eastern Cape • Aim: High level review to identify problems with content and implementation of Financing Policy Department of Social Development

4. Review Process • Reviewed documents/reports of evaluative nature • Reviewed progress reports from the provinces to the National Transformation Management Team • MINMEC directive for all activities relating to implementation to cease immediately • MINMEC Task Team submitted report in May 2001 Department of Social Development

5. Findings of Review:Content Issues • Vision of Financing Policy fragments services into children, youth, women and older persons • Framework for developmental welfare services is based on framework for Transformation of Child & Youth Care System – inappropriate as latter derives from youth in conflict with the law Department of Social Development

6. Findings of Review:Content Issues • Policy shift to integrated service delivery is contradicted by age specialisation • Categorisation of financing options is not clear – overlaps, too many meaning similar things, e.g. grant financing and project financing Department of Social Development

7. Findings of Review: Operational • Transformation Management Teams at national and provincial levels were running processes independent of HODs • Membership of task teams based on personal allegiances rather than suitability for the task • Task teams are not intersectoral, so perpetuating lack of integration • Lack of strategic leadership and vision to translate goals into concrete action Department of Social Development

8. Findings of Review: Operational • Shifting goal posts and no clear deliverables linked to timeframes • No clear and coherent system to manage implementation process: • Several pilot projects implemented without co-ordination • Monitoring based on reports from provinces without verification of reports • No system to evaluate implementation Department of Social Development

9. Findings of Review: Operational • Implementation bogged down by complex administrative systems/tools suitable for traditional welfare organisations and not emerging CBOs • Complex systems defeat objective of Financing Policy to redress past imbalances • Resistance to learning from other programmes, e.g. Poverty Relief Department of Social Development

10. Findings of Review: Operational • Development Quality Assurance problematic as major tool: • Complicated tool requiring intensive training • Training in DQA delivered only be NGO which developed the tool • Management and implementation centred on funding and protecting traditional NGOs, rather than needs and priorities of service delivery Department of Social Development

11. Findings of Review: Operational • Failure of national department to ensure broad consultation on policy prior to implementation • Resource implications and costing not dealt with adequately • Existing legislative framework may be inconsistent with Financing Policy • Unclear which aspects of policy would be piloted and how pilots would be funded Department of Social Development

12. Findings of Review: Operational • Lack of shared understanding about the policy • Lack of commitment to strategic issues • Subjectivity of transformation plans • Failure of Transformation Task Teams to report to MINMEC, Ministers, MECs, Departmental Management and stakeholders Department of Social Development

13. Key Recommendations • Overall conclusion: Policy has good intentions, but lacks direction to advance implementation • Implementation of policy to be held in abeyance until detailed review is done • Funding to continue on current basis • Principles of policy to be retained Department of Social Development

14. Key Recommendations • Detailed review and revision to include: • Legislation/regulation to be developed to enforce policy • Costing of policy to consider financial implications for government and partners • Costing of basket of services to be done with assistance of experts • Treasury to be sensitised to provide short term injection of funds Department of Social Development

15. Key Recommendations • Review (cont) • Development of norms and standards for service delivery • Proper linkages to be established between Policy and other programmes (social security, HIV/AIDS, Poverty Relief • Name of policy to be changed to reflect objectives accurately • National Department to drive review and complete by March 2003 Department of Social Development

16. Key Recommendations • Temporary measures be taken to address access to services in rural areas: • Support to NGOs working in nodal points of ISRDS • Prioritising services in poverty pockets • Redirect funds from administration to direct service delivery • Consult National Development Agency to direct support to CBOs and NGOs with development focus • Active guidance to traditional NGOs in transformation Department of Social Development

17. Transformation Agenda • Proposal from National Department to MINMEC in June 2001 to adopt more comprehensive approach to transformation of welfare services • Motivation for comprehensive approach: • Financing Policy is one of many transformation initiatives • Fragmentation of different initiatives Department of Social Development

18. Outputs of Review • Norms and standards for services: • A gap analysis between service needs and service provision • An audit of service provision by the national and provincial departments • An audit of service provision by subsidized welfare organizations, including national councils • An audit of the numbers and skills of provincial department officials involved in delivery of services Department of Social Development

19. Outputs of Review • Human Resource Issues: • Finalise HRD Strategy for sector • Revise curriculum for social service professionals • Review and revise service conditions of social service professionals to address issues of low morale and low retention Department of Social Development

20. Outputs of Review • Improving infrastructure: • Location of service centres and service points, focus on rural areas, informal settlements • Equipment of service centres • Upgrading or establishing facilities for target groups in rural areas and under-serviced urban areas Department of Social Development

21. Outputs of Review • Review of welfare policies and legislation in addition to content of Financing Policy, e.g • National Welfare Act • Fund Raising Act • Social Work Act • Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act Department of Social Development

22. Outputs of Review • Financial Issues: • Costing of services (to be informed by norms and standards) • Simplifying options for financing of services provided by NGOs and CBOs • Costing implementation of transformation programme and identification of sources of funding Department of Social Development

23. Outputs of Review • Monitoring and evaluation: • Must be integral part of programme, not afterthought • Key Performance Indicators identified • Design system for data collection • Commission impact evaluation studies Department of Social Development

24. Outputs of Review • Implementation Plan: • Set out institutional arrangements • Procedure manuals for officials, NGOs, CBOs • Training programme in new approach • Ongoing communication programme for all role players • Consultation with broad spectrum of role players Department of Social Development

25. Outputs of Review • Managing review process: • Director-General to drive process with a task team of national and provincial officials and ad hoc experts • Progress reports to MINMEC through Heads of Social Development • Issue to be standing item on MINMEC agenda Department of Social Development

26. Issues and Challenges • Scope of project requires dedicated financial and human resources • How to draw in existing initiatives without slowing down their progress • Sequencing the various elements of the project • Developing a sensible interim funding policy for NGOs and CBOs Department of Social Development