DSD on monitoring, evaluation and budget allocation of NGOs and service centres in the province

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the meeting. Some members attended in person whilst others attended virtually.

Briefing by Western Cape Provincial Department of Social Development

Dr Robert Macdonald, Head of Department, Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD), introduced the officials who were to make the presentation on the funding of NGOs in the province.

The Committee was told that the core principles of the department were accountability and transparency. Public funds allocated for addressing social welfare and community development needs should be utilised for their intended purpose in a manner that could be accounted for to the public and competent statutory bodies. Funds should be prioritised appropriately for services determined by social and demographic trends analysis and needs assessment by the DSD. There should be equity in the distribution of resources based on needs and priorities defined in the DSD’s annual performance plan and strategic plan. NGOs should be given equitable access to bid for funding for social welfare and community development projects. Adequate notice of funding availability should be given through print media adverts and, in respect of currently funded NGOs, departmental circulars. There should be a fair process of assessment and allocation of funding on the basis of these core principles.

The DSD, within its available budgetary resources, funded the provision of statutory social welfare services and approved priority social welfare and community development services. It aimed to achieve the progressive realisation of social services rights pertaining to children, older persons, and other vulnerable members of society as envisaged in the Constitution.

The Committee was told that the funding process took place within a three-year cycle. The DSD called for proposals via advertising in the media and circulars. NGOs submitted business plans and application forms to one central point in the DSD. Business plans were recorded and then submitted to relevant programme managers.

Reports must either be certified by the appropriate programme director or manager or in the case of rapid assessments and on–site monitoring and evaluation, by the monitoring officers as a true reflection of the status of the services delivered.  A certified report provided evidence of a track record indicating that the non-profit organisation (NPO) was competent and capable of rendering the service.

In terms of legislative compliance, the Committee heard that the department had to verify that the registration of a residential facility, non-residential facility or social service organisation was valid. It had to verify that programmes were legally registered in terms of service-specific related legislation, for example, the Children’s Act or Older Persons Act.

In funding social welfare and community development services, the unit cost funding method would, where possible, be used for the funding of residential and non-residential services. Unit costs were reviewed annually, and increases might be implemented as additional funding became available. The post-funding method would, where possible, be used to determine funding allocations. Post costs were reviewed annually. Funded posts included social workers and administrative staff. There could also be seed funding for emerging organisations and new projects and funding for non-consumables such as furniture, equipment, accommodation and vehicle rental.

The department’s line programmes monitored and assisted the 1 142 funded NPOs in terms of the relevant contracts between them and the department.

Discussion

Mr C Fry (DA) welcomed the report and wanted to know about the assistance given to previous offenders who were re-integrated into society.

Ms N Bakubaku-Vos (ANC) asked for clarity on slide 9 of the presentation. She asked what the department was doing to support NPOs in working-class communities. She also wanted to know if the department was assisting NPOs on compliance matters.

Mr Macdonald said there was a fully comprehensive report dealing with matters raised by Mr Fry and the report would be handed to the Committee. The reintegration process was broad and the DSD sometimes worked with psychiatrists from the department of health in dealing with mental issues.

The Committee heard that some offenders ended up using drugs again. The department tried to engage with the necessary authorities in finding solutions and working together with NGOs to assist communities.

Ms Bakubaku-Vos was informed that the department had created a help desk to assist and train NGOs and different stakeholders, especially when it came to funding applications. There was also a programme that assisted a lot of unfunded NPOs.

The Chairperson asked if the Committee could be provided with more information about the programme  so that members could update their communities. He referred to a visit he had made to one community where the NPOs mentioned that they did not receive any funding from the department.

(The Committee then took a 35-minute break while technicians tried to fix problems with the audiovisual links.)

When the meeting resumed, the Chairperson spoke of the importance of NPOs being given enough information on how they could receive funding. He highlighted the importance of the department providing all the necessary information so that NPOs could be better equipped and also so that Committee Members were able to provide better responses should they be asked for assistance.

The Chairperson thanked everyone who took part in the discussion. He said it had covered important aspects of the department and how more could be done in the future. He emphasised the importance of accountability on the department’s side. The Committee was grateful for their presence.

The meeting was adjourned.