Introduction
As government we should base our decisions on sound scientific research and knowledge. That is why I welcome this opportunity to work in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Today’s event will go a long way to bridge the gap between policymakers and researchers. This partnership between the University and the Provincial Treasury will certainly strengthen the dialogue between researchers and policy makers.
South Africa in general is not spending enough time, money and effort in doing research. Furthermore there are constant lamentations about the lack of relevant empirical research, especially in KwaZulu-Natal and in our rural areas.
Some questions cannot be answered in laboratory settings. We need those case studies and the direct contact and interaction with the people who live and work in the specific fields that the researcher is studying. Primary research is essential to improve policy and service outcomes – both for government and the private sector. We need honest brokers for knowledge, research production and practice.
Primary research serves more than one master Government & citizens
Citizen participation and consultation with the people that we serve is becoming increasingly important across the globe due to demographic changes in many countries.
It is important that government should use and benefit from the expertise and knowledge that exist within universities and other institutions, such as the Human Sciences Research Council. There sometimes exists a certain arrogance at the level of government to think that we know it all instead of working closer with the sources and reservoirs of knowledge. This is foolish, given the fact that we live in the age of knowledge economy. Not being able to use knowledge and knowledge technologies prevents us from benefitting economically and creating jobs. To get the best use of all potential assets it is essential for government and institutions of higher learning to interact. This includes the contribution of service users and communities to improve service outputs, quality and outcomes.
Students & researchers
We realise that primary research requires money, and as much it is a requirement for some tertiary students to acquire practical workplace experience in order to obtain their qualification, it is also a requirement for certain Honours and Masters.
1 2009: Why co-production is an important topic for local Government by Elke Löffler, Governance International students to conduct compulsory research as part of their studies in order to obtain their qualifications.
The stipends from Provincial Treasury will enable the students to conduct useful, evidence-based relevant research needed to underpin policy-making in government.
Food security research
The fact that the first participating student researchers hails from UKZN’s African Centre for Food Security is significant. Many global hunger and food security initiatives can benefit from new insight derived from environmentally sustainable projects that are there to alleviate hunger and poverty, e.g. the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the KwaZulu-Natal government’s initiatives to use agriculture as a means of lifting people out of poverty, such as our ONE HOME ONE GARDEN initiative.
Besides being a source of food, agriculture is also a primary engine for economic growth, especially for small-scale producers in the second economy. However, there is much scope for improvement, especially among women. Although they account for
75% of the agricultural producers in sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of women farmers are living on only $1.25 per day. Successful small-scale producers should grow their enterprises to become commercial ventures. With the Dube TradePort and its agri-processing zone on our doorstep the sky is the limit.
Use the opportunity
We want to thank the University of KwaZulu-Natal for this valuable partnership, as well as the students who will be participating. Use this opportunity, not only to build your own careers, but also to the benefit of the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
Be mindful of the norms of research, which promote social responsibility, human rights, animal welfare, compliance with the law, and health and safety. People are more likely to fund research projects if they can trust the quality and integrity of the research.
We are looking forward to the outcomes. Thanking you for helping us to build a better province.
Province
