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PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COOPERATION

PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COOPERATION. SECTOR ANALYSIS Vote 5: International Relations and Cooperation. MANDATE OF DEPARTMENT (DIRCO). Legislative mandate -1996 RSA Constitution: President ultimately responsible for conduct of foreign policy

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PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COOPERATION

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  1. PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS & COOPERATION SECTOR ANALYSIS Vote 5: International Relations and Cooperation

  2. MANDATE OF DEPARTMENT (DIRCO) • Legislative mandate -1996 RSA Constitution: President ultimately responsible for conduct of foreign policy - Minister entrusted with formulation, promotion and execution of South Africa’s foreign policy -Other role players: parliament, research institutions, academia, civil society ;business; departments -Diplomatic missions as implementing mechanisms

  3. MANDATE OF DIRCO(cont.) • Entity: African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund 2000-ARF -Strategic plan- positive step -Located at and receive funds from DIRCO; -Aimed for revival of economic, social development in Africa, human resource development, post conflict reconstruction -Promotion of good governance, democracy, conflict management ,infrastructure development -Challenges with operational inefficiencies

  4. ROLE PLAYERS IN FOREIGN POLICY PRESIDENCY Other government departments DIRCO PARLIAMENT Civil society Business African Renaissance Fund (agency) SA missions abroad

  5. POLICY MANDATE: Key priority areas -Enhanced African Agenda & sustainable development -Strengthen political & economic integration of SADC -Strengthen South-South relations -Strengthen North South relations -Participate in global system of governance -Strengthen political and economic relations

  6. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (Chapter 7) • Enhance South Africa’s position in the region and the world • Increase trade and investment • South Africa as one of Africa’s powerhouses • Partnerships for realisation of domestic priorities • Lead development and growth in Africa • Deepen integration with BRICS

  7. STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS 2014 • Africa remains centre of our foreign policy • Foreign policy remains informed by domestic priorities (address poverty, inequality and unemployment) • Address energy issues including ratification of the Grand Inga Hydro Power Project Treaty with DRC • Promote trade & attract investment(FDI) • Promote tourism(Branding) • Promote regional economic development and industrialisation

  8. DEPARTMENT’s PERFORMANCE DELIVERY ENVIRONMENT • Operating in unpredictable & insecure global environment • Impact of global economic downturn on government’s fiscals • DIRCO’s operational budget under pressure • Impact of foreign exchange fluctuations • Despite greater international demands and obligations -emergence of new economic powers, new media, new conflict trends

  9. OVERVIEW:DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET PROGRAMMES • Programme 1: Administration • Programme 2:International Relations • Programme 3: International Cooperation • Global system of governance • Continental cooperation/African Agenda • South-South cooperation • North-South dialogue • Programme 4: Public Diplomacy and Protocol Services • Programme 5: International Transfers

  10. POSSIBLE FOCUS/OVERSIGHT AREAS FOR COMMITTEE • Programme 1: Administration • Focus areas: -Efficient and effective organisation -Strategic alignment of missions -Effective management of property portfolio -Compliance with ICT governance -Compliance with supply chain management -Progress reports on Foreign Service Bill; establishment of SADPA; functioning of SACOIR

  11. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • Programme 2: International Relations • Focus areas: -Promote bilateral political and economic relations -Vehicle for cooperation & promoting national interest -Promotion of trade, investment and tourism -Pursue priority needs of Africa and the South

  12. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • Programme 3: International Cooperation • Focus areas: -Improve effectiveness and accountability of secretariats of UN system and other organisations -Reform of the Bretton Woods institutions -Positioning strategically for influence -Advancing SA’s positions of national interest and for developing countries

  13. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • International Cooperation -Focus areas: -Prioritising Africa, African Union, SADC -Economically viable, secure, stable SADC -Increase intra-Africa trade -Peace and security in Africa -Job creation-NEPAD projects -Status of Pan African Parliament headquarters agreement

  14. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • Focus areas: -Harness emerging political, economic influence of the South for development agenda of SA and the developing countries -Maintain relations with strategic formations of the North as sources of development assistance and foreign direct investment

  15. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • Programme 4: Public diplomacy and protocol • Focus areas: -Public diplomacy -Proactive, timely communication -Para-diplomacy -Perception of elitist foreign policy

  16. POSSIBLE OVERSIGHT AREAS(cont.) • Programme 5: International transfers -Progress on utilising quotas for South Africa -Needs Assessment report of membership to various international organisations

  17. PLANNED POLICY INITIATIVES • Establishment of South African Development Agency(SADPA)-approved by Cabinet in 2009 for outgoing development cooperation • Tabling of Foreign Service Bill-create necessary flexibility to address challenges posed by operating at global level • Operation: South African Council of International Relations-consultative forum with non-state actors(Cabinet approved 2011)

  18. MANDATE OF COMMITTEE • Oversee and ensure accountability in formulation and conduct of foreign policy(sec 55&92 of 1996 Constitution) • Oversight on policies, legislation, financial spending patterns, admin issues, activities of SA missions, activities of agency-ARF • Holds DIRCO accountable for its mandate • Enhance public participation in foreign policy issues

  19. Department Headquarters SA missions abroad - Engines & implementing agencies Direct oversight on conduct of foreign policy Bilateral missions Direct oversight on policy formulation & conduct of foreign policy Direct oversight on SA’s role and impact PCIR&C Direct oversight on SA’s contribution & impact Direct oversight on outgoing development assistance • Collaborating partners • Other departments • Civil society • Experts • Academia • Research institutions • Media • Foreign resident missions Multilateral missions African Renaissance Fund (agency)

  20. DIRCO’s CROSS-CUTTING MANDATE • Committee should continue seeking understanding on the implementation of Coordinating mechanism on activities of foreign policy nature (para-diplomacy). It will assist oversight function to check on the impact of such understanding. • Collaborate with other committees; joint visits to sites of delivery to check impact • Engage stakeholders as needed

  21. PLANNING(cont.) • Performance Monitoring unit in DG’s office should timely feed reports to the PC • These reports would ensure that the Committee does oversight visits to relevant sites/nodes of delivery/missions/project areas, and that is up to date with challenges and matters of interest in time for the budget review and recommendation report(BRRR)

  22. I THANK YOU

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