Question NW2673 to the Minister of Social Development
19 September 2023 - NW2673
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
(1)With regard to the monitoring tool on the implementation of the Intersectoral Protocol on the Prevention and Management of Violence against Children, Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, (a) how does she envision the monitoring tool to work, (b) what are the envisioned outcomes and impact of the monitoring tool, (c) how is the monitoring tool being measured to ensure the envisioned outcomes and impact, (d) which government departments, civil society organisations and private companies’ data on children is incorporated into the monitoring tool, (e) who has access to the information on the monitoring tool, (f) what consultation with stakeholders took place in the design and implementation of the monitoring tool and (g) what child protection nongovernmental organisations formed part of the consultation process; (2) whether the monitoring tool is currently operational, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. (a) The tool will contribute towards strengthening child protection system as data collected will enable the Department to identify current strengths, opportunities, gaps and limitations on the protection processes or mechanisms undertaken. The tool act as a yardstick as it measures if the desired outcomes of the intersectoral protocol have been achieved.
b) The tool will improve monitoring and evaluation of services rendered whilst also standardising reporting on the different pillars of the monitoring tool. The outcomes and impact of the monitoring tool is measured through the analysis of the provincial reports submitted by provinces on quarterly basis.
c) The Children’s Act 38/2005, section 4 and 5, promotes the Intersectoral collaboration in rendering Child Protection Services, in an integrated, coordinated, and uniform manner.
d) Social Development is the lead department for the child protection system, and other departments such as the Departments of Health, Department of Basic Education, Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, South African Police Service, Department of Home Affairs. The civil society organisations are represented by the Designated Child Protection Organisations, etc., which provide services to children and families which directly influence their protection.
e) Currently, the tool is paper-based and accessible to all the child protection stakeholders who are expected to report on it on a quarterly basis for all services rendered to children.
f) All key stakeholders in the child protection field were consulted, as well as during the development of the monitoring tool, and they were also involved when the tool was piloted in three (3) provinces, i.e., Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Free State respectively.
(g) The consultations included the National and provincial Designated Child Protection Organisations such as CWSA (Child Welfare South Africa), Childline SA, Tutela, SAVF (Suid Afrikaanse Vroue Fedarasie), and ACVV (Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging) to name a few.
(2) Yes, the monitoring tool is fully operational and forms part of the Annual Performance Plan where all the nine (9) provinces are expected to report on a quarterly basis.In addition, the national department of Social Development is conducting the capacity-building on both the intersectoral protocol and its monitoring tool in order to strengthen case management and data collection on services, as well as accountability amongst all stakeholders within the child protection field.
National Assembly written Reply: 2673 of 2023
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Approved by the Minister of Social Development
Date……………………….