Official reply: 19/04/11
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 885/2011
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 18 March 2011
Internal question paper no: 08
Ms N P Gcume (Cope) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
Whether any policy initiatives have been developed to support impoverished
and vulnerable communities in their entirety with a view to enable them as
a community to achieve gradual self-sufficiency, both with the help they
get from the Government and elsewhere as well as with the optimal use of
their own internal and combined resources; if not, why not; if so, what are
the relevant details?
NW612E
Reply:
Yes, in addition to the answers given on parliamentary question 07/2011,
the Department of Social Development has developed a community development
policy framework and sustainable livelihoods toolkit for community
development practitioners. Government on the other hand has numerous
policies that are aimed at supporting the poor and vulnerable.
(1). Sustainable livelihoods toolkit
This is an initiative that empowers community development practitioners
(CDP) to facilitate community development to ensure communities gradual
self sufficiency.
Community Development practitioners ( CDP) are cadres of workers whose
roles are to facilitate social cohesion by engaging communities, conducting
communities and household profiles, refer to relevant interventions and
champions community empowerment initiatives. These activities ensure that
communities use their available resources, tab on the opportunities
available and become sustainable. The Department has regarded this approach
as a community empowerment to drive community self-sufficiency in the sense
that, it enables members of the households and communities to take
ownership of their own development making use of households and community
assets.
(2).Community Development Policy Framework
The Department is in the process of developing a community development
policy framework that will provide guidance for all government departments
for community development. The aim of the policy framework is provide
standard approaches of community development and facilitating community
development in the country. The policy aims to empower communities to make
use of their internal resources for own development. In essence, it is
about mobilization of communities and households to participate in
development of their own communities. The policy also empowers communities
to identify resources and assets that are found in their communities for
effective utilization in their own development. The Department will take
the lead in the implementation of the policy framework.