All Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards (AAPSIA) out of the 97 projects from the different African countries which entered into the All Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards (AAPSIA) in Congo Brazzaville, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government’s Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) scooped the 2nd runner-up with Kenya scooping the 1st prize and was also the overall winner.
This was announced during the awards ceremony that was held during the conference of African Ministers of Public Service in Congo Brazzaville on 26 July 2013. The CRDP was shortlisted as a finalist in the 2013.
All Africa Public Sector Innovation Awards (AAPSIA), an awards programme recognizing innovation in the public sector in Africa. This came as a result of the CRDP scooping the first prize in the category on innovative partnership in service delivery during the Centre for Public Service Innovation Awards held in November 2012 in Johannesburg, Emperors Palace.
These awards recognise successful and effective service delivery projects and initiatives that have been achieved through the application of innovative approaches, methodologies and tools. Furthermore the Awards provide opportunities for information sharing and learning as well as possibilities for partnerships and the replication of successful initiatives throughout the country.
The judges were drawn in a way to represent different regions of African continent. These are the experts in different sectors especially administration, management and development.
The Head of Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Administration Ms Nelisiwe Sithole who is also the Provincial Coordinator of CRDP led the Mpumalanga delegation said that she was excited to see the CRDP outshining up to level it is now.
This project as a 2nd runner-up did not only represent the Mpumalanga province however the country at large. It shows that commitment, dedication and hard workpays; ever since the inception of the CRDP in 2009 the province has been working in a coordinated manner in ensuring that it makes an impact and that people’s lives change for the better,” Ms Sithole said.
Throughout the conference 22 to 26 July 2013 in Brazzaville, the CRDP was displaying its innovativeness to the delegations from member states. Different African Countries found it a very interesting programme and the team spent time sharing information with all delegates who visited the South African Exhibitions stand.
Through the CRDP the Provincial Government is accelerating service delivery and job creation. This programme is implemented as a basket of services in approaching rural development in an integrated way and Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Land Administration (DARDLA) has been mandated to coordinate the programme and other stakeholders.
In the province the CRDP was first launched in August 2009 and piloted in Mkhondo Municipality of Gert Sibande District. The programme initiated several projects in Donkerhoek, Jabulani and Driefontein. These yielded positive results and the province decided to rollout the programme to all 19 wards in Mkhondo and thereafter to other six poverty stricken municipalities, which are Nkomazi, Bushbuckridge, Dr JS Moroka, Thembisile Hani, Chief Albert Luthuli and Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme.
This decision was guided and informed by studies which were conducted including the socio-economic studies done by the provincial treasury. The CRDP prioritised municipalities were found to be underdeveloped in many aspects including high rate of unemployment, poverty, HIV prevalence, Non formal education, low level of infrastructure development and human development index. With the approval of the CRDP strategy by Executive Council on the 22nd of August 2012 the implementation of the programme was broadened to include all wards of the eight municipalities, including the new CRDP municipality, Dipaleseng.
The management of the CRDP was entrusted to the Council of Stakeholders which is composed of all structures in the community including traditional leaders, ward councillors, ward committees, NPOs, CBOs, cooperatives, municipality and sector department.
This is a local CRDP structure which monitors that implementation of the programme and ensures that local people are the main stakeholder of the programme. This programme has already created more than 39 000 jobs since inception and in 2013/14 financial year alone has targeted to create more than 25 000 jobs through different project initiatives.
