1. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Presentation to the Portfolio Committee on the Financing Policy
7 November 2001
Department of Social Development

2. Department of Social Development
MINMEC Review
MINMEC decision to review Financing Policy in February 2001
Review was motivated by:
Concerns raised by internal and external stakeholders, including Portfolio Committee
MINMEC observations about protracted process of implementation
Confusion about status of the Financing Policy
Department of Social Development

3. Department of Social Development
Terms of Reference
MINMEC Task Team:
MEC Free State (Convener)
MEC Northern Province
MEC Mpumalanga
MEC Eastern Cape
Aim: High level review to identify problems with content and implementation of Financing Policy
Department of Social Development

4. Department of Social Development
Review Process
Reviewed documents/reports of evaluative nature
Reviewed progress reports from the provinces to the National Transformation Management Team
MINMEC directive for all activities relating to implementation to cease immediately
MINMEC Task Team submitted report in May 2001
Department of Social Development

5. Findings of Review:Content Issues
Vision of Financing Policy fragments services into children, youth, women and older persons
Framework for developmental welfare services is based on framework for Transformation of Child & Youth Care System – inappropriate as latter derives from youth in conflict with the law
Department of Social Development

6. Findings of Review:Content Issues
Policy shift to integrated service delivery is contradicted by age specialisation
Categorisation of financing options is not clear – overlaps, too many meaning similar things, e.g. grant financing and project financing
Department of Social Development

7. Findings of Review: Operational
Transformation Management Teams at national and provincial levels were running processes independent of HODs
Membership of task teams based on personal allegiances rather than suitability for the task
Task teams are not intersectoral, so perpetuating lack of integration
Lack of strategic leadership and vision to translate goals into concrete action
Department of Social Development

8. Findings of Review: Operational
Shifting goal posts and no clear deliverables linked to timeframes
No clear and coherent system to manage implementation process:
Several pilot projects implemented without co-ordination
Monitoring based on reports from provinces without verification of reports
No system to evaluate implementation
Department of Social Development

9. Findings of Review: Operational
Implementation bogged down by complex administrative systems/tools suitable for traditional welfare organisations and not emerging CBOs
Complex systems defeat objective of Financing Policy to redress past imbalances
Resistance to learning from other programmes, e.g. Poverty Relief
Department of Social Development

10. Findings of Review: Operational
Development Quality Assurance problematic as major tool:
Complicated tool requiring intensive training
Training in DQA delivered only be NGO which developed the tool
Management and implementation centred on funding and protecting traditional NGOs, rather than needs and priorities of service delivery
Department of Social Development

11. Findings of Review: Operational
Failure of national department to ensure broad consultation on policy prior to implementation
Resource implications and costing not dealt with adequately
Existing legislative framework may be inconsistent with Financing Policy
Unclear which aspects of policy would be piloted and how pilots would be funded
Department of Social Development

12. Findings of Review: Operational
Lack of shared understanding about the policy
Lack of commitment to strategic issues
Subjectivity of transformation plans
Failure of Transformation Task Teams to report to MINMEC, Ministers, MECs, Departmental Management and stakeholders
Department of Social Development

13. Department of Social Development
Key Recommendations
Overall conclusion: Policy has good intentions, but lacks direction to advance implementation
Implementation of policy to be held in abeyance until detailed review is done
Funding to continue on current basis
Principles of policy to be retained
Department of Social Development

14. Department of Social Development
Key Recommendations
Detailed review and revision to include:
Legislation/regulation to be developed to enforce policy
Costing of policy to consider financial implications for government and partners
Costing of basket of services to be done with assistance of experts
Treasury to be sensitised to provide short term injection of funds
Department of Social Development

15. Department of Social Development
Key Recommendations
Review (cont)
Development of norms and standards for service delivery
Proper linkages to be established between Policy and other programmes (social security, HIV/AIDS, Poverty Relief
Name of policy to be changed to reflect objectives accurately
National Department to drive review and complete by March 2003
Department of Social Development

16. Department of Social Development
Key Recommendations
Temporary measures be taken to address access to services in rural areas:
Support to NGOs working in nodal points of ISRDS
Prioritising services in poverty pockets
Redirect funds from administration to direct service delivery
Consult National Development Agency to direct support to CBOs and NGOs with development focus
Active guidance to traditional NGOs in transformation
Department of Social Development

17. Transformation Agenda
Proposal from National Department to MINMEC in June 2001 to adopt more comprehensive approach to transformation of welfare services
Motivation for comprehensive approach:
Financing Policy is one of many transformation initiatives
Fragmentation of different initiatives
Department of Social Development

18. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Norms and standards for services:
A gap analysis between service needs and service provision
An audit of service provision by the national and provincial departments
An audit of service provision by subsidized welfare organizations, including national councils
An audit of the numbers and skills of provincial department officials involved in delivery of services
§         A gap analysis between service needs and service provision
§        
Department of Social Development

19. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Human Resource Issues:
Finalise HRD Strategy for sector
Revise curriculum for social service professionals
Review and revise service conditions of social service professionals to address issues of low morale and low retention
        
Department of Social Development

20. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Improving infrastructure:
Location of service centres and service points, focus on rural areas, informal settlements
Equipment of service centres
Upgrading or establishing facilities for target groups in rural areas and under-serviced urban areas
        
Department of Social Development

21. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Review of welfare policies and legislation in addition to content of Financing Policy, e.g
National Welfare Act
Fund Raising Act
Social Work Act
Prevention and Treatment of Drug Dependency Act
Department of Social Development

22. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Financial Issues:
Costing of services (to be informed by norms and standards)
Simplifying options for financing of services provided by NGOs and CBOs
Costing implementation of transformation programme and identification of sources of funding
A system for monitoring the implementation of the programme and evaluating the effectiveness of the programme should be developed as an integral part of the programme and not as an afterthought. This will involve the following:
§         Developing key performance indicators for monitoring
§         Designing a system for collecting information, analyzing information and reporting
Commissioning impact evaluation studies
Department of Social Development

23. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Monitoring and evaluation:
Must be integral part of programme, not afterthought
Key Performance Indicators identified
Design system for data collection
Commission impact evaluation studies
Department of Social Development

24. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Implementation Plan:
Set out institutional arrangements
Procedure manuals for officials, NGOs, CBOs
Training programme in new approach
Ongoing communication programme for all role players
Consultation with broad spectrum of role players
Department of Social Development

25. Department of Social Development
Outputs of Review
Managing review process:
Director-General to drive process with a task team of national and provincial officials and ad hoc experts
Progress reports to MINMEC through Heads of Social Development
Issue to be standing item on MINMEC agenda
Department of Social Development

26. Department of Social Development
Issues and Challenges
Scope of project requires dedicated financial and human resources
How to draw in existing initiatives without slowing down their progress
Sequencing the various elements of the project
Developing a sensible interim funding policy for NGOs and CBOs
Department of Social Development