Question NW2198 to the Minister of Social Development

Reply:

1. In order to contribute towards eradicating poverty, the NDA utilises Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as a vehicle to implement programmes, aimed at meeting the most critical development needs of poor communities. By capacitation, empowerment and engagements with CSOs, the NDA enhances the ability of CSOs to deliver a myriad of developmental interventions to communities they are located in, aimed at reducing levels of poverty and creating sustainable communities. The NDA’s aim is to create a functional, efficient, and integrated CSO sector through cooperation and strategic partnerships within the sector, aimed at benefiting CSOs, with the ultimate beneficiaries being individuals served by the CSOs.

Furthermore, the NDA’s strategic plan provides for it to collaborate and coordinate with the Department of Social Development, the South African Social Security Agency as well as other government departments and entities, funding organisation’s and the private sector to contribute effectively towards poverty eradication in poor communities.

(2) (a) There was no specific criteria to identify these CSOs. However, the 24 783 CSOs are part of our database which was created through the following interventions and activities:

• Community Profiling;
• Walk-ins to the NDA offices country-wide;
• CSOs who have participated in NDA capacity building sessions and other events;
• CSOs who participate in government wide events such as Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programmes (ICROP); and
• Referrals from other departments and stakeholders.

(2) (b) Indeed, the first step is engagement with CSOs at a local level to identify developmental needs, possible interventions, referrals to other departments and supporting communities to develop community structures or formations to organise themselves.

The assessment process also includes classification of CSOs based on assessed needs as well as types and levels of interventions required to improve operations of the CSO.

3. There was no country-wide call for proposals by the NDA for grant funding, due to the limited budget allocated for grant funding, lest expectations be created in the sector. Instead, the NDA used programme formulation method to develop proposals for grant funding. Programme formulation is a grant making approach whereby the NDA engages communities in social facilitation with the view of creating grassroots structures that will ultimately be the mechanism for implementation of projects. The approach targets specific areas and sectors based on primary research on priority poverty pockets. The process is driven by the NDA staff in provinces, based on the assessment of the institutional capability and competencies of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and NGOs in identified localities. The NDA Development Practitioners assume an active role in the conceptualization and planning of projects. The approach is used mainly for CSOs funded through NDA’s resources.

Notwithstanding the above mentioned, the country-wide call for proposals was used specifically in soliciting proposals to implement the following projects:

• The CARA Victim Empowerment Programme in the 2019/2020 financial year; and
• The Presidential Employment Stimulus Package (PESP) Volunteer Programme.

(4) (a) In the last four Financial Years, the NDA has grant-funded 289 CSOs enabling them to address poverty relief to the vulnerable and poor in communities. Through the funding, the NDA makes inroads in ridding the society of the dire effects of poverty, especially in areas where these CSOs operate. The grant funding programme focuses on assisting CSOs with seed funding that enables them to provide services to communities. The funding specifically targets CSOs that do not meet funding requirements of most funding institutions. NDA aims to unlock their potential for more funding and increase their sustainability.

As a result of the NDA Grant funding, the following was achived:

• Children within ECD Centres were able to access ECD services which meet the norms and standards of the sector. This increased their development prospects and provided an opportunity for caregivers to be involved in economic activities;

• Household food security has been improved through support to communal food gardens and small-holder farmers;

• Household income from the funded CSOs and Co-operatives involved in economic activities has been increased thereby increasing the asset base in their respective communities;

Through the grant funding programme the NDA created work opportunities. These work opportunities ensure that economically disadvantaged families have their quality of life improved through participation in the NDA supported community projects.

4) (b) A total budget of R50 173 746 in grant funding was disbursed to CSOs as per provincial and annual breakdown in the table below.

(4) (c) there is no amount still to be disbursed to CSOs except what is in the budget for the current financial year 2023/2024 i.e. R 9 396 829.