(a) (i) The current housing and human settlements policy framework makes provision for various roles that Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), can and do play within the human settlements value chain. This is evident in the role played by the sector in the implementation of the People’s Housing Process (PHP) programme. In various Provinces and Municipalities, NGOs and/or CBOs are participants in the housing delivery process either as support and/or as community resource organisations. The current grant framework for the Informal Settlements Upgrading Grant now also allows for NGOs and CBOs to form part of the implementing teams when an informal settlement is upgraded.
(ii) The NGOs and CBOs provide the necessary support to communities, provinces, and municipalities in various programmes, and this includes social facilitation. The policies allow for the conclusion of social compacts and partnership agreements to be concluded signed with the CSOs and NGOs, to allow for the sector to be part of the delivery of human settlements. Our various policy and legislative reviews also ensure that the sector is consulted and assists in the development and review of human settlements legislation and policies.
(b) The Department has constantly held consultations and engagements with the sector to ensure that they continue supporting Provinces and Municipalities in the implementation of human settlements programmes.
Based on various Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), Social Compacts and Partnership Agreements signed with the Sector in past years, a number of CSOs and NGOs continue to support provinces, municipalities and communities in the delivery of sustainable integrated human settlements.
Among the opportunities created by the Department for sector participation in the housing and human settlements delivery chain, and include:
One of the outcomes of the 2022 Human Settlements Indaba, is that the Department will intensify and resuscitate quarterly engagement sessions with the sector to monitor and oversight various agreements and commitments made with regard to the sector involvement in the housing and human settlements delivery chain.