Service Delivery Demonstration Project for the municipality of Tshwane

Description:
This project arises out of a commitment by the HSRC to contribute scientific research towards not only understanding and explaining the requirements and dominant trends in service provision for human development, but also to analyse and generate practical solutions to problems of planning and implementation.

Under the auspices of a `Centre on Demonstration of Service Delivery Models? located at the HSRC, the organisation intends to conduct multi-layered, action research projects which aim to produce evidence-based knowledge and demonstrations leading to local interventions that will have a significant impact on the service delivery problematic in the municipality of Tshwane, but with lessons for South Africa at-large.

The project aims to provide extensive innovation through its adoption of a systems approach which goes beyond analysis of services at the point of delivery to community or household to a complete view of the links between infrastructure and services, government and society, nation and locality, in order to address the systemic issues at stake. This project will be expedited by working closely with the municipality of Tshwane, other statutory science councils, academic and research institutions, policy makers and other stakeholders.

Through interventions that combine better planning, training, and implementation, an effective delivery system can be built in the municipality of Tshwane. Particular attention in this project will be paid to those local municipalities across all categories (A, B and C), and in all provinces, that have bucked the trend and established a formidable track record in delivery. Insights gleaned from this will inform recommendations made to the municipality of Tshwane.

Objectives:
(i) to conduct scientific research into the nature of and key trends in the municipality of Tshwane?s municipal system of delivery (but to potentially do this at a national level as well);
(ii) to undertake action research to diagnose and address service delivery challenges in the municipality of Tshwane (but potentially nationally as well);
(iii) to undertake local case studies in the municipality of Tshwane in which various approaches to improving service delivery are assessed, modelled and alternatives considered through a number of pilot interventions (local case studies will, potentially, also be undertaken in select provinces outside Gauteng); and
(iv) to provide practical conclusions and solutions to the continuing problems of achieving universal access, sustainable services and quality services in the municipality of Tshwane (but potentially nationally as well).