Community-‐based Planning Ward-‐based planning – Buffalo City
The ward-‐based planning (WBP) initiative by the NETSAFRICA2 Support Programme addresses some of the weaknesses in the participatory governance system in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Its principal objective is to promote better community action and engagement in formulating municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs). The initiative focuses on empowering local communities to develop their own vision, identify their own needs and plan projects as part of Ward Plans. The objective is then to link the Ward Plans to the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, thereby enhancing public participation in the IDP process and meeting the wishes of people and government for greater democracy at local level. The WBP initiative was piloted in wards 15 and 40. The first step was for all stakeholders to discuss and agree on a methodology and practice to address service delivery problems and deepen participatory governance at ward level. This approach contributed towards a feeling among ward members that this initiative could achieve results. The core element of the WBP methodology was organising workshops that provided participants with the skills and tools to be able to analyse their wards (through ward assessment surveys), prioritise challenges and map resources that could be used to address the challenges. At these workshops, ward committee members, community development workers and other role-‐players were trained in participatory methods, workshop management and how to respond effectively to the needs and priorities of their ward communities. Ward members were also given
2 The NETSAFRICA Programme is an initiative of decentralised co-operation development of General Direction for Development Co-operation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Regional Government of Tuscany, in South Africa. It supports the process of administrative decentralisation in the Republic of South Africa, with a view to consolidate the role of local institutions on the path towards democratisation and peace, as well as the realisation of effective policies and services to fight poverty and ensure access to basic services.
PROMOTING CARING CITIES – THE CASE OF SOUTH AFRICA’S METROPOLES
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