Social Development to engage with NPOs

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NPOs are a critical partner to the department in delivering social services to communities, spokesperson Lumka Oliphant said on Tuesday.

"The engagement with the sector will therefore seek to evaluate progress made in advancing the resolutions of the NPO Summit held in 2012 as well as create an opportunity to develop long-term and trusting relationships between the Department and the NPO sector," said Oliphant

The 2012 Summit resolved on improving public confidence in the non-profit sector through enhancing accountability and transparency.

There was also a collective agreement between the development and NPO sector that government should demonstrate its commitment to the vision of an inclusive society through the development of appropriate policies, accompanied by requisite resources for effective implementation.

According to Oliphant, the minister also wishes to address transformation within the NPO sector.

This, in addition to using the funds transferred by government to NPOs and the findings of Project Mikondzo - a service delivery initiative which is aimed at ensuring that government services are rendered in an efficient manner - about the performance of NPOs in communities.

Through its interaction with communities, Project Mikondzo has found a number of service delivery challenges pertaining to the NPO sector.

These include inaccessibility of services and the tailoring of services to meet the demands that exist in communities.

Representatives of the sector will meet the minister this morning to discuss funding and resource mobilisation, the role of NPOs towards addressing unemployment and poverty: Mikondzo Project; and the role of NPOs towards promoting social cohesion.

The NPOs will then have an opportunity to make presentations on these issues to Minister Dlamini on Wednesday.