Over the medium term, the Department of Cooperative Governance seeks to maintain around 200 000 programme participants annually, as part of broader employment and social inclusion strategies.
The CWP is designed to provide predictable local work opportunities in areas with high unemployment, serving both as an income safety net and a pathway to valuable work experience that supports post-programme employability.
The initiative is funded through a R9.8 billion allocation over the medium term, directed to enabling meaningful participation while supporting community upliftment efforts at local government level.
This programme remains central to government’s approach to mobilising local communities, improving livelihoods, and addressing poverty through structured, community-based engagements.
Source: South Africa Yearbook 2023/2024
