Developing Rural Economies in South Africa

1. Developing Rural Economies in South Africa By Dr Maria Motebang Presented at INCA Summer School Oct 2005 Litsebi Consultants (Pty) Ltd

2. 1. Outline Defining rural development Approaches to Rural Devt History of RD in SA RD Policy framework The ISRDS/P Challenges Way forward

3. 2. Defining Rural Development • Multifaceted attempts aimed at improving the provision of services & infrastructure • Increasing opportunities for income generation • Local economic development • Active representation in political processes • Social cohesion • security

4. 3. Approaches in Rural Development • Community Development • Integrated Rural Development • Basic Needs • Public Participation

5. 4. History of RD in SA • Aimed at promoting minimum living standards (Homelands) • Uniqueness of rural population in SA high density population and dislocated settlement • Migration has resulted in a high level of interdependence btn rural communities and large cities • Estimated at 51%

6. 5. Rural Devt Policy Framework • RDP • GEAR • Rural Development Strategy 1995 • Rural Development Framework 1997 • Rural Development Initiative

7. 6. The ISRDS • Launched in 2001 • Creative and ambitious attempt to address institutional weaknesses • Deepen the impact of delivery • Bolster local capacity for participation • The core tool for delivery is the IDP

8. Vision • To attain socially cohesive and stable rural communities with viable institutions, sustainable economies and universal access to social amenities, able to attract and retain skilled and knowledgeable people who are equipped to contribute to growth and development

9. 6.1 Framework for Delivery Framework for delivery INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS LONG RANGE PLANNING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT CO-ORDINATION OF DELIVERY STAKEHOLDER MOBILISATION

10. 6.2 Implementation Phases • Phase 1 2001-2003 The pilot phase and evaluation • Phase 2 2003-2005 Implementation and Medium Term Review • Phase 3 2005-2010 upscale, full implementation and exit strategy for external agencies

11. 6.3 Coordinating Institutions • DPLG • The IDT • The Inter-departmental Task Team • Provincial IDTT • Political Champions • Provincial Government

12. 7. Performance so far • ISRDP has all the essential elements of IRD • The challenge is to ensure that decentralization, planning, resource definition and people’s participation are met • Some of these elements are sometimes sacrificed for the sake of accelerated delivery

13. 8. Challenges • Structural requirements: Land Reform • Lack of understanding of the ISRDP & inefficient coordinating mechanism • Prioritization – Re-orientating/ ruralizing IDPs & LEDs • Capacity • People’s participation and stakeholder mobilization.

14. 8.1 Ruralizing IDPs • Pro-active rural saving schemes • Mindset shift in IDPs • Less industrialised but more agro-based • Engaging traditional leadership • More labour based activities • Activities that will increase productivity

15. 8.2 Agro-based economies • LED • Natural resource based tourism • Twining of tourism endeavours • Improved rural lending schmes • Accelerated water resource management for agriculture • IRAP (Integrated Rural Access Plans) • Agri-based stakeholder mobilization

16. 8.3 Local Institutional Capacity Building & Municipal capacity • Support Community Based Devt Planning • Use of CDWs • Conduct municipal capacity audit • Short term training in rural development

17. 9. Conclusion • There are fewer rural based and driven initiatives taking place • Emphasis has been on infrastructure & services that not necessarily devt’al • For SD to occur there has to be a balance in both rural and urban growth