CSO INVOLVEMENT IN

WATER SERVICES SECTOR (MASIBAMBANE )

Thoko Sigwaza

Director Sector Collaboration &

Rosetta Simelane National CSO Coordinator

Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on

Water Affairs & Forestry3rd May 2007

The World Bank says it "welcomes the opportunity to work with civil society".

WTO Director-General Mike Moore says he welcomes scrutiny from civil society and that their engagement with the WTO "informs us and encourages us to do better." 2005

Germany, speaking recently for the European Union, affirmed that NGOs are "essential partners for government and the international community" and spoke of their capacity to "participate constructively in policy-making and implementation."

INTRODUCTION –POLITICAL IMPERATIVES

In the state of the nation address 2005, President Mbeki stated that;

“The capital investment programme of government will be speeded up focusing on housing…, water &

electricity. In part to facilitate this, urgent steps will be taken to strengthen the Public-Private Partnership

mechanism in government by December 2005. At all times these partnerships should involve local

communities”

TRI-SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS

PRIVATE

Any entity acting in a business or professional capacity supplying goods or services. Distinct from other sectors by its “for profit motive”

PUBLIC

Includes all government stakeholders at all spheres of government & other public service organisations i.e. water boards

CIVIL SOCIETY

Generally position themselves alongside communities to assist in their development or for influencing with development processes

Community based organisations, Non-governmental organisations, Community representative bodies, Church groups

Masibambane

WHAT IS MASIBAMBANE?

• Let’s Work Together with all Sector Partners & Donors in Support of implementing Govt Strategy

• Sector Wide Approach Programme (SWAP) – Maximise resources & minimise transaction costs– Uses govt: systems & processes and brings

national & international best practices to improve operational efficiency

• Key Partners: DWAF, DPLG, SALGA, CSOs the EU, Ireland, Flanders and DFID

ALIGNMENT OF PARTNER ROLES

Networks Social knowledge

Community Representation Developmental processes

Communication skillsCredibility/ legitimacy

PolicyRegulationsProcedures

Integrated planningFunding

ResourcesCompetitive approach

Risk managementTechnical knowledge

ManagementFlexibility

BUSINESS

NGO/CIVIL SOCIETY

NATIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SHARED OBJECTIVES

10Yrs OF CWSS AND NGO COOPERATION

• Policy and Strategy development

• 1996 DWAF entered into a partnership agreement with NGO for service delivery - first of its kind

• 10m people served in 10 years at a cost of over R8billion

• Created 400,000 job opportunities of which over 50% are for women

• ± R300m spent thro: NGOs

• Training and capacity building of NGOs in SADC

• Development of guidelines and tools for training capacity building

• Development of sustainability checklist

• Development and roll out of monitoring and evaluation

• Participation in the BoTT programme

• Broadening the participation of NGOs

• Capacitating and influencing Private Sector partners on sustainability issues

• Improving cost effectiveness

• Assisting in the evaluation processes

• Improving accountability and relating to “grass root”

• Meeting conditionalities in EU and other donor programmes.

10Yrs OF CWSS AND NGO COOPERATION (cont.)

WHAT ROLES DO CSOs PLAY

DUAL ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

SOCIAL’ WATCHDOG’ ROLE

SERVICE DELIVERY

REQUIRES

-COST EFFECTIVENESS

-SUSTAINABLE SERVICE DELIVERY

-GOOD GOVERNANCE

ACT AS MONITORS OF THE PUBLIC GOOD & SAVEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF THE DISADVANTAGED SECTIONS OF SOCIETY

EXPANDING ACCESS TO SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SERVICES THAT CREATE JOBS AND ERADICATE POVERTY

•-CLOSE TO ‘GRASS ROOTS’

•TRANSPARANCY

•-ACCOUNTABILITY

HOW MASIBAMBANE SUPPORTS CSOs

Strategic Framework for Water Services

“ A vibrant and durable democracy needs a strong civil society. Government is committed to promoting the active involvement of civil society in the provision

of sustainable and affordable water services …”

‘WATCHDOG’ ROLE OF CSOs

• Emphasis on communication with key

stakeholders esp. Local Govt (to build trust and

sound relations)

• Advocacy programme to promote community

participation and empowerment

• Accredited training & Capacity building of NGOs

& CBOs (Accreditation)

• Assist with securing of funding

AREAS OF INTERVENTION IN SERVICE

DELIVERY • Project planning• Project design• ISD• Gender Awareness and Equity• Water Conservation and Environment• Research and Policy and Networking• M & E • Health and Hygiene Awareness• Capacity building and training• Using innovative implementation models/approaches• Mentoring

Successes-Current involvement in WS delivery

• Mpumalanga- CSO contracted for social facilitation in communities and education on cost recovery issues in the Western Highveld area

• LP-implementation of a sanitation programme in Sekhukhune district and Greater Tzaneen

• Rehabilitation of hand pumps in remote areas to enable provisioning while larger infrastructure programmes are still in planning stages in Sekhukhune( Tsogang Water and sanitation) with Flanders govt donor support

Current initiatives cont.

• LP- Social facilitation,Hygiene and Health promotion (mobile water classroom(Eco Care Trust)

• LP- Community facilitation and training (Thlavhama)

• Sanitation delivery in Bohlabela District (AWARD) and piloting of Multiple use of water

• NC,LP, EC sanitation delivery ( Mvula Trust)

FUTURE CHALLENGES • Introduction to MIG and agree on 3% benchmark

• Strengthening partnerships between CSOs & Local Gvt.

• Accredited Capacity Building & Training in Water Services Business

• Capacity on ‘watchdog role’

• Broaden CSO base in WS Sectors

• Emphasis on sustainability

• Funding for independent role of CSOs

• Contracting and Procurement

• Working for NEPAD to share experiences with other African countries.

THANK YOU