Effective, Efficient & Economic Service Delivery Presented by Dr Maria S. Motebang 02/11/2004

1. Introduction Definition of Concepts: Effective: capable, useful, functional, productive, competent Efficient: unwasteful, economic, productive Economic: Cost-effective, solvent, profitable, productive The production/delivery of a service, at a cost, (no free lunches) and regularly.

Reliability: depend on with confidence Accessibility: available, reachable Regularity: predictable, standard, everyday, unvarying.

2. What are the particular challenges for rural areas? The rural sector is large (50-70%) The average income is very low Low tax base with limited scope for income redistribution Low administrative capability and the political will required to mobilise or to divert additional resources Urban bias: Physical challenges: Out of reach, dispersed etc leads to higher costs.

3. What does this imply especially for the rural poor The prevailing perception is that there is little potential for cost recovery The reality: Rural people (like anyone) will always take up opportunities when they arise as long as such opportunities are perceived to be real and viable and in their true interests. True interests should be based on their actual needs; long term success (small & locally manageable) and real prospects for improvement.

4. What are the alternatives? Lower labour costs (EPWP) while being aware that that some services require considerable capital costs and technical input (water, electricity, sanitation) Less sophisticated and cheaper options of delivery (VIP toilets, solar energy, alternative housing arrangements) Self-help schemes – require some direct policy interventions to allocate resources to generate a productive potential

At the initial stage the emphasis might have to be restricted to those services which will increase productivity (eg water- Irrigation, sewer works that are linked to farming as secondary users of such waste etc) Other services may only be feasible only when additional local resources can be raised

5. Policy Directive ISRDP – 2001 a framework for which role players must operate in respect of 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

IntegrationCoordinationDecentralizationPartnershipsDiversity

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 (This will lead to disasterous mistakes: lack of responsibility, ownership and sustainability)

6. Constraints Structural requirements: (Land Reform) necessary to increase the productive capacity in rural areas and in long term sustainability – cost recovery) Capacity of Local Government People’s participation and stakeholder mobilization General perception about service delivery

6.1. How is service delivery perceived: Is it a right, privilege or an opportunity? If it is a right then generally everyone has to get it, but rights often go with responsibilities (to pay, to save, maintain etc) If it is a right then generally everyone has to get it, but rights often go with responsibilities (to pay, to save, maintain etc) Privileges: are earned and for a few Opportunities: chances that bring about change/ improvement for the better

7. Conclusion Currently, there is a sense of political entitlement to services; Govt alone will not be able to meet those needs A combination of efforts such as: re-orientation of people on the long term benefits and responsibilities will lead to more self-help initiatives which are more sustainable PPP which are more focused on people’s participation and not money spent.