Effective, Efficient & Economic Service Delivery

1. Effective, Efficient & Economic Service Delivery Presented by Dr Maria S. Motebang 02/11/2004

2. 1. Introduction • Definition of Concepts: • Effective: capable, useful, functional, productive, competent • Efficient: unwasteful, economic, productive • Economic: Cost-effective, solvent, profitable, productive • The production/delivery of a service, at a cost, (no free lunches) and regularly.

3. Reliability: depend on with confidence • Accessibility: available, reachable • Regularity: predictable, standard, everyday, unvarying.

4. 2. What are the particular challenges for rural areas? • The rural sector is large (50-70%) • The average income is very low • Low tax base with limited scope for income redistribution • Low administrative capability and the political will required to mobilise or to divert additional resources • Urban bias: • Physical challenges: Out of reach, dispersed etc leads to higher costs.

5. 3. What does this imply especially for the rural poor • The prevailing perception is that there is little potential for cost recovery • The reality: Rural people (like anyone) will always take up opportunities when they arise as long as such opportunities are perceived to be real and viable and in their true interests. • True interests should be based on their actual needs; long term success (small & locally manageable) and real prospects for improvement.

6. 4. What are the alternatives? • Lower labour costs (EPWP) while being aware that that some services require considerable capital costs and technical input (water, electricity, sanitation) • Less sophisticated and cheaper options of delivery (VIP toilets, solar energy, alternative housing arrangements) • Self-help schemes – require some direct policy interventions to allocate resources to generate a productive potential

7. At the initial stage the emphasis might have to be restricted to those services which will increase productivity (eg water- Irrigation, sewer works that are linked to farming as secondary users of such waste etc) • Other services may only be feasible only when additional local resources can be raised

8. 5. Policy Directive • ISRDP – 2001 a framework for which role players must operate in respect of rural development: • Multifaceted attempts aimed at improving the provision of services & infrastructure • Increasing opportunities for income generation • Local economic development • Active representation in political processes • Social cohesion • security

9. Integration • Coordination • Decentralization • Partnerships • Diversity

10. ISRDP has all the essential elements of IRD • The challenge is to ensure that decentralization, planning, resource definition and people’s participation are met • Some of these elements are sometimes sacrificed for the sake of accelerated delivery (This will lead to disasterous mistakes: lack of responsibility, ownership and sustainability)

11. 6. Constraints • Structural requirements: (Land Reform) necessary to increase the productive capacity in rural areas and in long term sustainability – cost recovery) • Capacity of Local Government • People’s participation and stakeholder mobilization • General perception about service delivery

12. 6.1. How is service delivery perceived: Is it a right, privilege or an opportunity? • If it is a right then generally everyone has to get it, but rights often go with responsibilities (to pay, to save, maintain etc) • Privileges: are earned and for a few • Opportunities: chances that bring about change/ improvement for the better

13. 7. Conclusion • Currently, there is a sense of political entitlement to services; • Govt alone will not be able to meet those needs • A combination of efforts such as: re-orientation of people on the long term benefits and responsibilities will lead to more self-help initiatives which are more sustainable • PPP which are more focused on people’s participation and not money spent.