The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, today briefed parliament on initiatives to strengthen evidence-based integrated planning, monitoring and assessment of the impact of government programmes. The Minister appeared before the Public Service and Administration Parliamentary committee to table the annual performance plan of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) for the financial year 2023/2023.
During the briefing, the Minister reflected on the progress made thus far in institutionalising and coordinating the country’s planning system within public service. This planning is reflected in national departments, provincial departments, and some of the state-owned entities.
“Despite progress made in the current planning system, more needs to be done to ensure local government is better integrated. This requires urgency especially with the implementation and institutionalisation of the District Development Model (DDM). The DDM remains an important pillar of planning and the implementation of policies and programmes at local government level with the support of other spheres of government,” said Minister Ramokgopa.
The primary mandate of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) is to facilitate the implementation of the NDP through the development of sector specific and outcome-specific medium-term plans and delivery agreements, and monitor and evaluate the implementation of these plans. This mandate entails ensuring alignment of departmental strategic and annual plans, and budget allocations with the government’s medium-term strategic framework.
Therefore, the APP 2023-2024 aims to be catalytic in the improvement of the developmental outcomes of the country as envisaged in the NDP 2030 through effective implementation of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019- 2024. The APPs are anchored on the Revised Strategic Plan 2020-25 which is informed by the NDP, the Revised MTSF and the seven apex priorities of the Sixth Administration. In addition, the APP focuses on the 2023 SONA commitments pronounced by the President.
During the 2023/2024 financial year the APP is focused on addressing the following:
To strengthen the National Planning Commission as an independent institution to monitor the implementation of the NDP, and provide feedback and guidance to government with the support of the Secretariat.
To strengthen the planning processes and alignment in government in the medium term to achieve long-term goals of the NDP through the work of the National Planning Coordination Branch in the Department.
To continue monitoring the implementation of key government programmes in the MTSF 2019-2024 and produce progress reports on implementation to be presented to cabinet.
To monitor frontline services including the complaints and compliments emanating from the Presidential Hotline and building capacity programmes.
To generate evidence on government performance against its set priorities including MTSF and SONA commitments. The DPME will conduct rapid evaluations on programmes that are aimed at achieving our annual apex priorities of the Sixth Administration.
Some of the key commitments include the development and an Integrated Planning Framework Bill, the production of the 30-year review report of South Africa’s democracy, the establishment of an interactive knowledge hub to promote evidence- based planning, and the revamping of the presidential hotline to promote citizen government engagement.
“The APP provides a pragmatic framework to be implemented by the DPME in pursuit of our vision of improving government outcomes and improving the quality of lives our people live. It takes guidance from the NDP on guiding our collective journey towards Vision 2030 and employs the MTSF as the vehicle that will carry us over five years,” Minister Maropene Ramokgopa concluded.
A special session will take place for the adoption of the APP and will allow for debate in Parliament in the next few weeks.
Source: Government of South Africa