HSRC Strategic Plan 2014/15 – 2018/19 & Annual Performance Plan 2014/15

HSRC Strategic Plan 2014/15 – 2018/19&Annual Performance Plan2014/15 Date: 30 July 2014 Social science that makes a difference

Overview • Vision and Mission • Objects of the HSRC Act • Policy Mandates • HSRC research areas • Strategic Goals of the HSRC • Research Programmes • Flagship projects 2014/15 • Performance indicators & targets 2014/15 • Budget 2014/15 • Measuring return on human capital investment • Management of human capital investment losses • Transformation/equity redress 2

Vision and Mission VISION: The HSRC intends to serve as a knowledge hub for research-based solutions to inform human and social development in South Africa, the African continent and the rest of the world. MISSION The mission of the HSRC is to be a research organisation that advances social sciences and humanities for public use. 3

Objects of the HSRC(cf. Section 3, Act 17 of 2008) • Address developmental challenges in the Republic, elsewhere in Africa and in the rest of the world by means of strategic basic and applied research in human sciences, • Inform effective formulation and monitoring of policy, and evaluate the implementation thereof, • Stimulate public debate through effective dissemination of fact-based research results; • Help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences, • Foster research collaboration, networks and institutional linkages, • Respond to the needs of vulnerable and marginalised groups in society through its research, and • Develop and make available data sets underpinning research, policy development and public discussion of developmental issues. 4

Policy Mandates • Outcome 1 (Improved quality of basic education), • Outcome 2 (A long and healthy life for all South Africans), and • Outcome 5 (A skilled and capable workforce to support an inclusive growth path). Strategic intent: 5

HSRC research areas ± 178 research projects, most touch people • Science system and innovation • Poverty, grow economy and create jobs • Quality of education • Human and social advancement • Skills development • Service delivery • Crime • Youth, families and social cohesion • Health promotion, health systems and wellbeing • HIV/AIDS and STI control • Nutrition and food security 6

Strategic outcome oriented goals A – “KnowledgeAdvancement”: Advancing social sciences and humanities for public use by initiating, undertaking and fostering basic and applied research in human and social sciences, and geopolitical issues; stimulating public debate and disseminating research results. D – “Contribution to Development and Social Progress in Africa”: Conducting research, analysing and publishing data that aims to address developmental challenges in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa and the rest of the world. E – “Enhanced Skills”: Contribution to the development of a skilled and capable workforce in the Republic and elsewhere in Africa by developing research skills & capacity. P – “Preserved data & knowledge”: Digitisation and preservation of data sets and library holdings and sharing with others for further analysis. T – “Transformation”: Transformation at senior level to reflect the national demographic composition with respect to race and gender. S – “Financial Sustainability”: Improvement and implementation of effective and efficient systems of financial management and good corporate governance; and ensuring sustainability of research funding through long-term research projects and longitudinal studies. 7

Research, Development and Innovation • Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) • Centre for Science, Technology & Innovation Indicators (CeSTII) • Democracy, governance and service delivery (DGSD) • Economic performance and development (EPD) • Education and skills development (ESD) • HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases and TB (HAST) • Human and social development (HSD) • Population health, health systems and innovation (PHHSI) • Research Use and Impact Assessment (RIA) 8

Flagship Projects for 2014/15 (1) 9

Performance indicators 2014/15 (1)

Budget 2014/15 25

Budget: Ratios • Ratio between Parliamentary grant and (total) external income: 59:41 • Staff costs as a percentage of Parliamentary Grant: 82% • Direct staff costs as a percentage of total expenses: 49% • Included in the budget is AISA ring-fenced amount of R42.6m 26

Budget: Challenges • Capital Expenditure: Building, IT, other critical infrastructure that requires upgrading • Budgeting for performance targets • “Knowledge hub” for dissemination • Future growth of the HSRC is dependent on growth in Parliamentary grant • Salary absorbs 82% of total Parliamentary Grant • Cash flow constantly under pressure 27

Significant critical needs that are underfunded • Introduction of sustained national funding to create an empirical base for evidence based policy development/ implementation • Infrastructure (ICT) and non-infrastructure support for longitudinal and regular cross-sectional studies • Capacity enhancement, staff establishment and capacity building (new and emerging researchers) 28

Support for new initiatives (1 – 3 years impact) • Infrastructure and non-infrastructure support for existing longitudinal and regular cross-sectional studies [South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS), South African Behaviour, Sero-Status and Mass Media Impact (SABSSM) surveys, the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), the South African National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (SANHANES) R&D survey, Innovation Survey, Maternal and Child Mortality Survey, TB Prevalence], • Infrastructure and non-infrastructure support for new longitudinal and regular cross-sectional studies [ youth employment, migration and spatial development, social cohesion] • South African Social Science and Humanities Data Archive [SASSHDA] • Rural Innovation Assessment Tool (RIAT), and work in the field of integrated district development planning 29

Support for new initiatives (7 - 10 year impact) • Green economy initiative (job creation and skills development), • State intervention in the economy (mining sector, State-owned Enterprises, land reform), • African Studies Centre (revival of a humanities-centred research agenda and contributing to Africa agenda and BRICS), • Institute for Science, Technology and Innovation (job creation, skills development, rural development), • Process (implementation) and impact (focused on poverty and inequality) evaluation of the National Development Plan (Vision 2030). 30

Measuring return on investment • Return on investment in growing a pool of researchers through the HSRC research internship programme is measured by: • The number of peer-reviewed journal articles published in an internationally accredited scientific journal per research intern; • The number of research interns who complete the programme within the prescribed period; • The number of successful grant funding proposals per research intern; • The number of client research reports per research intern; • The number of research projects with research interns participation. 28

Management of human capital investment losses Some of the strategies to minimise losses are: • The introduction of mandatory collaboration throughout the HSRC, particularly in research programmes. Collaboration between researchers and between programmes. • The HSRC performance management system is such that individual performance against HSRC priorities is easily identified and rewarded; • Accountability of all managers on human resource management issues within their areas of responsibility. 28

Gender spread of the HSRC(Transformation/ equity redress) As at 31 March 2014, the HSRC had 502 employees on the permanent payroll, 62% (312/502) were female and 63% (317/502) were African. The HSRC measures transformation and progress in equity redress through the following 6 indicators: 28

Appreciation • Minister, Deputy Minister and Department of Science and Technology • Portfolio Committee of S&T, chair and members • Board chair, members, committees • Staff of the HSRC

HSRC Strategic Plan 2014/15 – 2018/19 & Annual Performance Plan 2014/15