OSDP  RESPONSE TO THE 2008 SONA (STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS)

 

Introduction: 

Key to the SONA 2008 is the word “Business Unusual” which implies speedy, efficient and effective implementation of disability related policies and programmes. The response to this address will focus on the Apex Priorities and the implementation through the strategic plan of the OSDP.

 

 

THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS SUMMARIZED THE 24 APEX PRIORITIES TO 8 POINTS:

1.         Acceleration of economic growth and development: The OSDP will ensure that opportunities for growth in initiatives that are created for employment benefit people with disabilities through activities implemented by NAP (National Accessibility Portal, Jobs.co.za, E-Deaf recruitment company and training center)

2.         Speeding up the process of building the infrastructure we need to achieve our economic and social goals: OSDP ensures that persons with disabilities will benefit in key action plans in various sectors such as the mining sector, in initiatives for improvement of small enterprises, co-operatives, agriculture and agro-processing.

3.         Improving the effectiveness of our interventions directed at the second economy and poverty eradication: OSDP will work with SocDev, DPLG, Dti, Agric, DoH, Public works, DPO’s to ensure that the objectives of the National War Room for War Against Povery benefit people with disabilities. Seconldy that  people with disabilities are included and involved in anti-poverty strategies that address the elderly, those living in rural and urban informal settlements and those suffering from chronic illnesses. 

4.         Enhancing the impact of our programmes targeting the critically important area of education and training:

§         OSDP will monitor implementation by the Department of education to ensure that weaknesses of the ABET (Adult Basis Education Training) programmes are corrected and people with disabilities participate in the National Kha Ri Gude (let us learn) mass literacy campaign.

§         OSDP will track professional graduates to ensure that there is provision of “on-the-job-training” by SETA, and preparations for work by FET colleges.

§         ECD sites should be responsive to the needs of children with disabilities

 

5.         Accelerating our advance towards achievement of the goal of health for all:

 

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o                    OSDP will continue to work in collaboration with SANAC to implement the Intensified National Strategic Plan Against HIV and AIDS.

6.                   Revamping the criminal justice system to intensify our offensive against crime:

§                     Working toward prevention of violence crime, commercial, sexual crimes and any other crime against people with disabilities.

§                     Promotion of access to justice through the equality courts (Article 13 of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.)

 

7.                   Further strengthening the machinery of government to ensure that it has the capacity to respond to our development imperatives:

    • OSDP will Convene and implement quarterly meetings of Interprovincial Forum and Inter-Departmental Coordinating Committee on Disability to discuss amongst others mainstreaming of Disability issues into government programmes and progress regarding implementation of policies.

 

8.                   Enhancing our focus on key areas in terms of our system of international relations with particular focus on some African issues and South- South relations.

§         OSDP WILL establish a mini task team from National Disability Machinery to serve as the African Decade Secretariat and

§         Visits to African countries.

 

 

 

THE OSDP STRATEGIC PLAN COVERS THE FOLLOWING POINTS:

 

1.                   Finalising the  National Disability Policy Framework

·         Finalise Draft National Policy Framework

·         Develop a Draft implementation plan

·         Submit to political principals for approval

·         Implement after approval

·         development of training manuals by SAMDI & budget, brief clusters on process and contents

·         Letter of commitments from DGs

·         Policy Framework and Implementation Plan to be taken to Cabinet for approval by July 2008.

 

2.         Finalising the  15 Year Review Workshop on 11 March

Utilise report to compile a Hand-over Manual for next government.

     

 3.        Establish and/or participate in appropriate Disability Coordination structure to policies:

·         Develop a calendar of Meetings

·         Develop a programme of action (, additional reps, agenda items, etc for NDM (National Disability Machinery) meetings e.g. Public Transport, NPF, SANAC Programme)

·         Establish a mini task team from NDM to serve as the African Decade Secretariat

·         Convene and implement quarterly NDM meetings a year

 

 

4.         Government Co-ordinating Structure:

·         Consolidate IDCCD and IPF into one structure

·         Develop terms of reference for the new structure, including providing clarity on the authority of National OSDP over provincial OSDP offices.

·         Convene and implement  quarterly meetings per year

 

5.         Local Government Co-ordinating Structure

·         Meetings with municipalities to establish and strengthen at local level

 

6.         JMC:

·         Disability Parliament – secured slot in calendar. OSDP to get date

·         Areas of strategic interventions – OSDP to participate in JMC meetings with other Departments

·         Proposing JMC to be part of the machinery

·         JMC to follow up on EE targets in public service and spending patterns on Disability (e.g. budget for OSDP)

·         4 meetings per annum

·         Izimbizo – calendar of GCIS.

 

7.         Delivering on SA’s obligations in respect of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

·         Awareness Campaign

·         Develop an awareness raising strategy on the contents of the UN Convention and the obligations of the member countries

·         Develop implementation the strategy

 

8.         Alignment to National Policy and Legislation:

·         Finalise Draft National Policy Framework

·         Develop a Draft implementation plan

·         Submit to political principals for approval

·         Implement after approval

 

9.         Monitoring & Evaluation:

·         Ensure indicators and measurements from UN Convention are incorporated into PCAS government-wide M & E

·         Develop and submit reports on implementation to Foreign Affairs for submission to the UN as per prescribed deadlines

·         Convention  pilot project in E.Cape (rural and less resourced municipality)

 

10.        Inclusion of disability issues  where appropriate in APEX priority

·       Investment Call Centre

·       ICT interventions to provide cheap platforms

·       Resolve organizational issues on skills development (Negotiate targets with Economic cluster)

·       Resource poor schools and monitor learning outcomes

·       Land and Agrarian Reform

·       Interim anti-poverty campaign and anti-poverty strategy

·       Self employment interventions in the second economy

·       Community infrastructure

·       ECD programme

·       Campaign on communicable diseases

·       SMME Procurement assistance call centre

       (Negotiate targets with Economic cluster)

·       Special social cohesion campaigns

·       Regularize employment and KPA’s at designated levels

·       Improve civic services

 

 

11.        Facilitate inclusion of people with disabilities and disability mainstreaming in all Economic Growth and Development programmes

Economic employment targets

·       Finalise national government audit of EE targets, challenges experienced and recommendations to address challenges

·       Submit Final report to relevant Cluster committee

·       M & E implementation of recommendations once the report has been approved and adopted

·       Develop Strategic Concept Paper motivating for increasing the EE target to 8%.

·       Submit to political principles for approval and adoption.

·       Engage with relevant departments to ensure amendments to legislation is effected Skills Development Targets:

·       Develop Strategic Concept Paper motivating for increasing the Skills Development target to 10%.

·       Submit to political principles for approval and adoption

·       Engage with relevant departments to ensure amendments to legislation is effected

 

12.        Pilot Commercialisation of Workshops

·         Manage and participate in implementation

·         Provide advise

·         Reporting back to donor

·         Monitor and evaluate

·         Fieldwork

 

o        Transform Free State workshop

o        Transform Tembalethu Board and Management

o        Establish Tembalethu Web presence

o        Increase skills of learners at Tembalethu

o        create partnerships with workshop and learners

o        Monitor and evaluate Cape Craft Design Institute’s transformation at Tembalethu (best practice model)

o        Monitor and evaluate MODE’s economic transformation initiative at JOCOD.

o        Monitor and evaluate Ngoepe’s economic transformation initiative at Dilokong Protective Workshop.

o        Best Practice Document and exchange initiative between four workshops.

                                                                              

·         Increase capacity of placements of people with disabilities in formal employment

§         partnership with E-Deaf

§         establish incubator recruitment company

 

·         Establish database of professionals for labour market

·         Partnership between Department of Public Services and Administration (DPSA), Jobacces.co.za and corporate.

·         Raise awareness of jobaccess.co.za among persons with disabilities and prospective employers

·         Increase the capacity of jobaccess.co.za through document management system and partnership with DPOs.

 

·         Audit of 2004-2007

o        Coordinate Financial External Audits – Danish project funds; from inception to 2008/09

o        Internal audit report: deal with backlogs

 

§         Skills transfer, exchange program with Danish

§         Site visits with Danish representatives

§         Study tour to Denmark with representatives from protective workshops projects

§         Develop best practice strategies for protective workshops

 

·         Development of exit Strategy: March 2009

 

13.        Ensuring that people with disabilities and their families are aware of existing government programmes for people with disabilities

·         Commemoration of International Day of Disabled Persons

·         Contribute to the GCIS communication strategy that has been planned providing relevant information. Accountable: GCIS with support from OSDP and line departments for implementation of commitment and resolution of queries

·         Development of action plan and brochure.

·         Disability mainstreaming in izimbizo

·         OSDP participates in izimbizo planning and event

·         Analyse, record queries and concerns and commitments  and ref to relevant

14.        Training of Public Servants on mainstreaming disability in partnership with SAMDI

·         Continuously assess training content developed by SAMDI

·         Advise SAMDI on possible participants for training courses

·         Advise civil servants on training offered by SAMDI

16.        Reporting and accounting to strategic and political structures to promote Good Governance: Participate in strategic sessions

·         Compiling reports

·         Attend standing communication meeting

·         Participate in cluster communication meetings, Meetings, presidency etc

·         Compile weekly reports and Director’s weekly schedule to Chief Director

·         Compile monthly OSDP reports for GDC meeting

 

17.        SANAC Programme:

·         Audit of ARV sites (R = time, flights and accommodation for 4 people)

·         Training of Pharmacists that are dispensing ARV and TB drugs (trainer, training materials and venue, catering)

·         Open days at places of congregation in an organized form (transport of pwds, catering and entertainment)

·         Ongoing role in M & E framework – facilitation  & co-ordination role.  Person in OSDP to capture M & E data

·         Ongoing role in research – facilitation role (meetings, keeper of info).

·         Education Information and Communication (EIC) – making research docs,  etc available

 

 

18.        Conclusion:

Continuing to facilitate inclusion of people with disabilities and mainstreaming in all Social Development, cultural and economic programmes.