DEAT's Social Responsibility Program started in the 1999/2000 financial year with a budget of R70 million. In the subsequent financial year i.e. 2000/01 the allocation was increased to R 99 million. As the Department became more efficient in locating and funding worthwhile projects in tourism and environmental sectors, the budget allocated was increased by the Treasury to R206.6 million, R240 million, R321.6 million, R386 million and R414 million for  2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06 financial years respectively. The program is implemented through a number of projects of varying durations ranging from six months to two years.

Approximately 8% of the annual budget of the program is spent on programme administration, including the payment of salaries, administration costs, transport and software excluding the implementers’ fees. Internationally, the average for programme management is usually in the order of 11%. A crucial part of DEAT's efficiency is due to the computer software used to enable implementation. Information on projects is kept up to the minute, and is instantly available through the Web-based version of the software.

Management of the program

When the program was initiated in 1999/2000 financial year it was managed by a group of consultants who were based both in the National Office in Pretoria and in all the provinces with each province having a Provincial Project Manager. Since 2003 those consultants have been replaced by officials appointed by the department to manage the program. In July 2003 the first Chief Director to head the program was appointed and subsequent to that the whole structure has been filled comprising of four Directors and a total staff complement of about 80. The staff members are located both in the national office as well as all the provinces and some District Municipalities with the hope to extend to all the District Municipalities.

Focus areas of the Program

The Department determined its niche in the fight against poverty and committed itself in fostering the implementation and integration of sustainable development principles for local economic development benefits that accrue from effective management of natural resources and creation of tourism opportunities. The major objectives of the program are the creation of job opportunities and the provision of training of beneficiaries. Other objectives include:

• Creating conditions for sustainable tourism development, growth and access to markets
• Developing the tourism product base in order to attract both domestic and international tourists
• Improving infrastructure to support an expansion in the flow of tourists, particularly to previously disadvantaged areas and emerging tourism growth points
• Implementing projects for the conservation and sustainable development of natural resources
• Improving the broader management of the quality of the environment and particularly the management of pollution and waste in South Africa
• Implementing a poverty alleviation programme that demonstrates the inter-relationship between conservation, tourism growth and community empowerment and ensuring that at least 40% of the available fund is directed to the Nodes

Contacts

• Contact List (PDF) – 22 September 2006

Documents

• Terms of Reference for Impact Study – 8 August 2006
• Previous Impact Study – 2002/2003

Important Websites

• Project Management System (theLapa)
• DEAT GIS Facility
  
• Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
  
• Working for Water (DWAF)
  
• Greening the Nation (SANBI)
• Working for Wetlands (SANBI)
  
• Comprehensive Agriculture Support Programme - CASP (NDA)
• LandCare (NDA)
  
• Investing in Culture (DAC)

Implementer Websites

• Tswaranang (Afri-Coast Engineers)

Faranani in Action

• Metropolitan Gateways and Beautification Project
• Motherwell Peace Park and Greening Project