How Virtual Events Can Drive Donations on Giving Tuesday
The role of the National Planning Commission is to advise government and the country on issues affecting the country’s long-term development. This is a plan for the entire country, and all sections of society need to take responsibility for making it a reality. To successfully implement the plan, the Commission identifies a series of critical success factors. Because
plan is designed to bring about fundamental change over a period of nearly two decades, it requires a degree of policy consistency that straddles changes in leadership in government, business and labour. Many aspects of the plan will require years of effort to deliver results. For example, the transition to a low-carbon economy will need long-term policies and spatial
planning regulations will take decades to overcome the geographic divisions of apartheid. Policy changes should be approached cautiously based on experience and evidence so that the country does not lose sight of its long-term objectives. Broad support across society is needed for the successful implementation of the plan. In a vibrant democracy this support
Be uncritical Vigorous debate
is essential for building consensus and broad-based ownership o f t h e p l a n . Constructive debate also contributes to nation building by enabling South Africans to develop a better understanding and to take ownership ofd sacrifice from different sectors. When differences occur, it is important that the reasons for disagreement are debated and clearly explained, so
that there can be broad consensus on the way forward. The National Planning Commission can use its convening power to bring stakeholders together to facilitate dialogue and develop solutions. Much of the plan deals with the institutional reforms required to overcome weaknesses in the public sector, particularly where public agencies are unable to meet their
to poor communities. These proposals are about devThe plan proposes a three-pronged humanresources strategy involving a long-term training strategy, better outputs from the higher-education sector and strategic allocation of scarce resources. Government has to be willing to prioritise. Cabinet and senior public officials should focus most of their attention on strategic priorities. This plan provides such a strategic framework. It identifies high-level
Pand in some areas
a specific sequencing. For example, it highlights the need to raise the quality of FET colleges before rapidly expanding capacity. Implementing this plan will require some tough, potentially unpopular decisions. A recurring theme in the plan is that the accountability chain needs to be tightened. The public needs a clearer sense of who is accountable for what. There need to
systems to hold all leaders in society accountable for their conduct. Weak, poorly performing systemseloping the attributes necessary to support the plan. Building institutional capability takes time and effort. The chapter on building a capable and developmental state provides pointers on the approach to be pursued. Institutions improve through continuous learning
incremental steps; tackling the most serious problem, resolving it and moving to the next priority. This requires good management, a commitment to high performance, an uncompromising focus on ethics and a willingness to learn from experience. Several challenges require attention, including a critical shortage of skills, a complex
Intergovernmental system high levels
of corruption, weak lines of accountability, inadequate legislative oversight and a long history of blurring the lines between party and state. These are difficult issue reflection, careful planning and decisive leadership.trade-offs The National Development Plan will shape resource allocations over the next two decades, but it will not determine annual budgets. The
economy faster. If the economy grows by more than 5 percent a year, government revenue and the profits of private firms will more than double over the next 20 years. The plan supports government’s intention to gradually shift state resources towards investments that reshape the economy, broaden opportunities and enhance capabilities. As a result, other
parts of the national budget will need to grow more slowly. Spending more on investment is only the first step. South Africa also has to improve the quality of this spending through better planning, sound procurement systems and greater competition in the economy. There is a need for greater efficiency in all areas of government expenditure, because the overall
Conclusion
envelope is likely to grow relatively slowly over the medium term. Particular attention needs to be given to managing the government warecurring theme in the plan is that the accountability chain needs to be tightened. The public needs a clearer sense of who is accountable for what. There need to be systems to hold all leaders in society accountable for their conduct. Weak, poorly performing systems make it hard to attribute responsibility, with the frequent
result that no one is accountable. The plan cites the example of what happens when the water in a town is found to be undrinkable. The media blame the Minister of Water Affairs. The community blames the mayor. The mayor blames the head of the water utility. The head of the water utility blames the technical engineer. The engineer says that the maintenance budget has been cut for the past three years and now the water is undrinkable. The head of
finance in the municipality says that the budget was cut because personnel costs have crowded out maintenance expendge bill, making resources available for other priorities. This will involve balancing competing pressures such as increasing staff numbers, adequately remunerating skilled professionals and improving benefit coverage
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