Independent Development Trust: briefing

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INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT TRUST: BRIEFING

PUBLIC WORKS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
1 November 2000
INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT TRUST: BRIEFING

Chairperson: Chief M Hlengwa

Relevant document:
Independent Development Trust slide presentation - text outline only (see Appendix 1)

Independent Development Trust delegation:
Mr Eddie Funde: Chairperson of the Board of Trustees; Mr. Lionel Louw, Ms Doris Sikhosana, Mr Delani Mthembu, Mr.Andrew Hendriks: Members of the Board of Trustees; Ms Lulu Gwagwa - Chief Executive Officer (IDT); Mr Kelly Byrne - Director of Program and Support; Ms Kholeka Lubelwana - Regional Manager: Western Cape; Ms Jaunita Fortune - Program Implementation Manager; Mr Bernard Deon - Program Implementation Manager

IDT website: http://www.idt.org.za

SUMMARY
The Independent Development Trust briefed the committee on its new mandate. This the government development agency was formed in 1991 as a parastatal to fund organizations that are involved in poverty alleviation in South Africa. They now operate under a new mandate no longer funding projects, or as they put it, giving handouts or food packs, but are facilitating the implementation of poverty alleviation and development programmes in affected communities. Discussion clarified most of the queries that the committee had about the IDT.

MINUTES
Independent Development Trust presentation
Ms Lulu Gwagwa (CEO) said the IDT was formed in 1991 to provide funding for projects that were involved in poverty alleviation in South Africa. It was set up with public funds therefore it is a parastatal and not an non-governmental organisation. Its mandate has now changed: IDT does not fund organizations anymore but helps in facilitating programs geared at poverty alleviation around the country. [See presentation document for the briefing on IDT].

The new mandate:
- To support the implementation of the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy (ISRDS) that develops basic services such as water, energy, roads, clinics, hospitals and schools. The government has not outsourced the programme but the IDT has been brought in to support the Office of the Deputy President in implementing it.
- Poverty alleviation using a development approach, based on self-reliance and sustainability rather than on handouts and food packs, with the emphasis on income generating projects.
- Local economic development: oversee how to drive local economic growth in rural areas

Discussion
Mr Chikane (ANC) noted that he had heard of many projects being established in areas such as the Eastern Cape but he had not heard of anything in the Northern Province even though floods have attacked that area. He asked what a particular community should do if they wanted to access the IDT offices?

Ms Ngwagwa said the Red Cross rather than the IDT is competent to deal with what she referred to as "during disasters" situations. The IDT has provincial offices around the country where people can contact them. The IDT can assist communities in formulating funding proposals and business plans.

Mr Moonsamy (ANC) asked how one goes about effecting capacity building. He also asked why 60 tons of toxic wastes were brought into the country from Australia?

Ms Ngwagwa said that the IDT is not competent in the area of waste products as it is not an environmental organization. The IDT had not invited waste products from Australia. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism would be able to answer this.
On capacity building, she said that they have taken models of projects that have been used internationally in combating poverty. They look at emerging projects and see whether these projects can be sustainable. Participatory planning processes are very important and they always like to work with people at grassroot level. They have capacity building programs that are in place. She said it is important to ensure end value in order to see what has been paid for.

Mr Sigwela (ANC) said that in his constituency in Cala in the Eastern Cape, the IDT had funded a certain project amounting to a sum of R25 000. This was misused and a complaint had been lodged with him. He asked how IDT monitors the use of funds.

Ms Lubhelwana (IDT) replied that they were dealing with communities that have never handled money before. She requested that Mr Sigwela refer the matter to the IDT Regional Manager in Umtata as that office would know of this case.

Ms Sekgobela (ANC) wondered where all these lovely projects that were mentioned were to be found. Are they in other provinces to mine?

Ms Ngwagwa pointed out that the National Youth Program to build facilities for the disabled in KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Northern Province has been initiated.

Ms Shilubana (ANC) asked where the Community Production Centers (CPC's) are. She asked what the R23,5 million will be used for. Is it for monitoring or what? Regarding poverty alleviation, which areas have you covered?

Mr Byrne (IDT) said there are six Community Production Centres in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and the Northern Province. The role of the IDT is to monitor their implementation. The bulk of poverty alleviation programs can be found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and the Northern Province. These are areas that have been identified by the government as poverty stricken areas. In terms of evaluation they will bring in other service providers to evaluate them as IDT cannot evaluate themselves.

Mr.Mpehle (ANC) noted that Ms Gwagwa had said that there is participation at grassroots level in the Eastern Cape at the regional offices in Umtata and asked exactly where they are in Umtata?

Ms Gwagwa replied that there are offices in Umtata and contact numbers are available on request.

Mr Opperman (DP) asked if it is possible to get information on all these projects on the IDT website. What exactly is the role of the IDT in working with the Public Works Department?

Ms Gwagwa said that the role that IDT plays in Public Works is to assist government in implementing the Community Based Public Works Programme on the ground. IDT is acting as an implementing agent. She said they had a database of their previous activities, but in terms of current programs they have a database from the Department of Public Works.

- Mr Manie (ANC) asked what are the working relations like amongst the regional offices?
- Ms Kasienyane (ANC) asked the IDT to advise the government on ways of giving good food to children, some of the food given to the children is dried food and not good. Why can this responsibility not be given to local women so that they can be empowered as well?
- Mr Mpehle (ANC) mentioned that people who are involved in the feeding of children are not being paid. What is done in cases of people who deliver food but are not paid?
- Mr Radebe (ANC) noted that in October 2000 they had visited a project on a Free State farm. They found that this project employed up to 1500 people but they were paid next to nothing. They had asked the farmer who are the owners of this project and the farmer had said it is the IDT.

Ms Gwagwa said that the IDT had funded community projects in the past when it played a funding role. However the IDT was not responsible for what is happening in those projects because they were not IDT projects. So there is a wide range of schemes that are IDT funded. She requested more information about the project. She thought that perhaps it was one of the projects they had funded in the past. She repeated that it is not an IDT project - that should be clear. There are a lot of funding organizations out there and IDT was one of them. But what the beneficiary of the funds does is not the responsibility of the funder. Under current IDT projects there is no such project. Regarding feeding schemes, she said that the IDT is not involved in feeding schemes. She added that a project that is managed by a wide range of sponsors is not easy to administer.

Ms Lubhelwana (IDT) added that the project referred to by the committee member is for mothers who have underweight children. She said that if members have any advice on the issue of feeding schemes, that would be welcomed. These projects are designed so that there is sustenance in all that is done.

Mr Funde pointed out that the IDT is a national based organization and it was important to meet with national political representatives. He reminded the Portfolio Committee that the IDT is directly involved with the people on the ground so its activities are important. He noted that the government has now formed a funding agency in the name of the National Development Agency. Mr Hendriks (IDT) acknowledged the fact that the development arena is a highly politicized terrain. He said there are a lot of people who claimed to represent the communities whilst they want to feed their coffers.

Appendix 1:
INDEPENDENT DEVELOPMENT TRUST (IDT)

PRESENTATION TO PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS
1 November 2000

Objective of Presentation
Brief the Committee on:
- The IDT
- Our Mandate and role in Poverty Alleviation
- Synopsis of IDT Programmes
- Solicitation of Support

The IDT is a National Public Entity
- Report to Parliament through the Minister of Public Works
- Is audited by the Auditor General
- Governed by PFMA

Mandate
- ISRDS
- Poverty Alleviation
- Local Economic Development

Mission
The IDT's mission is to enable poor communities to access resources, and to recognise and unlock their own potential to continuously improve the quality of their lives

Core Business
·
The IDT's core business includes:
- Programme management
- Harnessing of resources
Delivery, capacity building

History and Competitive edge
·
Based nationally
· Over a period of 9 years the IDT has programme managed 1 800 projects to the approximate sum of R2,8 billion
· Monitoring and evaluation systems form part of programme management approach

Capabilities in partnership with Government
·
Financial accountability
· Multi-sectoral approach
· Facilitate inter-departmental integration
· Well-positioned to draw link amongst the three spheres of Government
· Facilitate delivery capacity building

Department of Public Works
·
Napp Kei Anti Poverty Project -36m
· Clean and Green Programme - 11m
· Youth for Environmental Accessibility - 50 m
· Community Production Centres (CPCs) - R23, 5 m
· Wild Coast Spatial Development Initiative - R7, 2 m

Department of Social Development
·
Poverty Relief Programme - R447 m over three years

Department of Health
·
Community-based Nutrition Programme - R50, 4 m

Department of Trade and Industry
·
Local Industrial Park Programme - R2, 4 m

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
·
The Shawbury Tourism and Development Programme - R823, 000

Provincial Departments
·
Eastern Cape Disaster Intervention
- EC Dept. of Housing & Local Govt. - R3,5 m
· Maputaland Infrastructure Development Initiative
- KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government - R600,000

VALUE-ADDED SERVICES
Value proposition
·
A deep understanding of community facilitation with experience acquired on the ground
· Links with government, the private sector and strategic partners
· Ability to ensure that resources reach the communities they are intended for
· Accountable for and guarantees all programme funds managed
· Sound financial management systems in place

In summary . . .
·
The IDT has . . .
- Flexibility of operation
- Ability to innovate
- Sustainability
- Facilitation skills
- Programme development of management capabilities
- Geographic presence in all provinces
- Relationship with strategic development partners

Conclusion
·
Demonstration of IDT role in national poverty alleviation effort:
- Support of Public Works Portfolio Committee for IDT mandate is essential
- Forging of working relationship with the committee prudent
- IDT cooperation with, and accountability to Parliament is assured

Thank you

Visit our website at: www.idt.org.za


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