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Contact Idasas Local

Governance Unit at:

Kutlwanong Democracy Centre

357 Visagie St cnr Prinsloo St

Pretoria 0002

Ph 012 392 0629

Fax 086 633 3263

Cell 082 487 5557

Email Mr Bongani Qwabe,

bqwabe@idasa.org.za or

Ms Marece Wenhold,mwenhold@idasa.org.za

www.idasa.org

Idasa is anindependentpublic interestorganisationcommittedto promotingsustainabledemocracy basedon active citizenship,

democratic institutionsand social justice.

What makes this project unique?

Drawing on its 15 years of experience promotingdemocracy and good governance in South Africa,and given its non-aligned position as mediator inthe governance arena, Idasa can work with willingmunicipalities to improve the quality of governance

and service delivery. This is a four-year init iative,involving all stakeholders.

We make the notion of governance tangible,measurable and discussable, using the LocalGovernance Barometer;

We work holistically, involving all aspects ofgovernance and stakeholders;

We engage actively with all partners, at national,provincial and local levels, who deal with aspectsof good governance;

We take a long-term process approach withcommunities (3-4 years) to achieve an attitudechange;

We stimulate active citizen engagement;

We emphasise self-assessment to stimulate localownership;

We provide capacity development support that isdemand-driven;

We have high level of flexibility to adapt to local

and provincial requirements.

Capacity

Development forLocal Governance

(CDLG)

Partnering for good

governance in SouthAfrican Municipalities:

2009 2014

Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency

Partners involved in implementation:

National level: Department of CooperativeGovernance and Traditional Affairs, SouthAfrican Local Government Association, TechnicalAssistance Unit, Auditor-General, GoodGovernance Learning Network.

Provincial level: Premiers Offices, Departmentsof Local Government and Traditional Affairs, CivilSociety Organisations, Service Providers.

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Good governance threatened

Citizen protests in various municipalities all overthe country are not only an expression of theirdissatisfaction with the quality of service delivery.They also demonstrate the frustration of citizens withthe poor quality of governance in these municipalities:

Lack of responsiveness, transparency andaccountability (including the mismanagement offunds) by local government;

Poor communication between local governmentand citizens;

Absence of real engagement by citizens indecision-making at local and provincial level.

What are we addressing interms of good governance?

We collectively have the power to change badgovernance by bringing together all stakeholderstostart a dialogue. Each of the municipalities will haveits own Governance Capacity Development Plan with

specific targets and benchmarks:

Improved financial management

Better leadership (LG and CSOs)

Develop communication structures and skills

Lobbying and advocacy skills (for CSOs)

Investigative journalism (for local media)

Budget tracking (councillors and CSOs)

Idasa will try to group training activities and work asmuch as possible with local capacity-building service

providers.We will use an issue-based approach to capacitydevelopment i.e. geared to resolve real issuese.g. improving participation, transparency andaccountability in the housing sector.

At end of the programme, Idasa will:

Assess changes and impact at municipal levelby doing a second round of assessments in allmunicipalities.

All lessons learnt will be integrated into a national/

provincial level policy dialogue on improvinggovernance at the local level and the relatedsupport structures and provincial departments.

Work with the Good Governance LearningNetwork on how it can scale up good governanceadvocacy work.

Why is it important to addressgood governance?

Good governance is the single most important

factor in eradicating poverty and promotingdevelopment. Kofi Anan

Quality of governance affects quality of servicedelivery: good governance as a means to improvelivelihood.

The poor have less access to services and cantinfluence actual decision-making. Improving thequality of governance ensures that services aredelivered according to policy intentions and nomoney is lost due to corruption or ineffectiveness.

Quality of governance affects the legitimacy of the

state: good governance as an end: building localdemocracy.

If local government is not accountable andresponsive to its citizens, people will lose trust intheir local government and in the processes thatregulate interaction.