An Overview of International Agreements entered into by the National Department of Human Settlements as at October 2012.
Country/ Institution / Title of Agreement / Date signed / Expiry Date / Status of Implementation /The Netherlands / Arrangement on co-operation entered between the Government of the Republic of South Africa, the Minister of Human Settlements of the Republic of South Africa and the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment on co-operation in the field of social rental housing 2010-2014 / First MoU signed on 14 November 1997, renewed on 07 July 2004, renewed again on 15 June 2010 / August 2014 / This cooperation provides for Dutch assistance in areas such as social rental housing, urban development, property maintenance management, building and construction and project management. Currently, four technical advisors are assisting SALGA, NASHO SHRA and Department in social rental housing programme implementation support. The cooperation is managed through established Oversight Committee, which will convene its next meeting in November 19 to 21 November 2012 in South Africa to review progress on implementation of agreed Annual Implementation Plan and agreed on 2013 Annual plan.
Denmark / Agreement between the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark and the Government of the Republic of South Africa regarding Support to Energy Efficiency Housing in the Low-cost Housing Sector in South Africa / February 2005. / 2008, but extension granted to end 2011 for implementation / Denmark is contributing R17 million for a pilot project on energy efficient measures in low-income housing. On of the anticipated outcomes of this project is that lessons learned on energy efficiency in low income housing will inform the South African regulatory framework in the formation of standards policies to be incorporated into the relevant legislation. The Department has appointed a Project Manager to deal with the day to day running of theproject and Energy Advisor to advise the Department on technical efficient energy measures and undertake the community awareness programme. The project is also coordinated through a Project Steering Committee which meets quarterly to measure progress on implementation. The Department will continue to manage the risks associated with this project and ensure continuous engagements with the donor and continue to monitor progress of this project due for completion in April 2013.
IBSA (India Brazil South Africa Dialogue Forum) / Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the Field of Human Settlements Development / 15 October 2008 / It is an automatically renewed agreement after periods of two years. / IBSA is a trilateral, development initiative between India, Brazil and South Africa to promote South-South cooperation and exchange on several mutually agreed upon areas of interest .At the fourth meeting of the Trilateral Commission of the IBSA Dialogue Forum in Delhi in July 2007, human settlement development was identified as an area for IBSA cooperation. As a result a Working Group on human settlements was established and, subsequently, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the area of human settlement development was signed at the 3rd IBSA Summit held in October 2008. The MoU serves as the formal platform for trilateral engagement amongst the three countries and provides for:
§ Development of common conceptualization and approach between parties in the areas of human settlements development particularly slums upgrading and housing for the poor;
§ Collaboration in defining fundamentals of housing and human settlements development for a shared understanding;
§ Enhance existing cooperation in exchange of experience and information and multilateral cooperation through participation in workshops, regional positions etc;
§ Promotion of cooperation in training and skills development, exchange of scientific knowledge, dissemination of cost effective building materials, development of policy framework and implementation as well as strengthening partnerships of Non-Governmental Organizations active in human settlements
IBSA human settlements Working Group convened a workshop on slum upgrading during the IBSA Summit in October 2011 whichbrought experts from the three countries to exchange ideas and find solutions to their common challenges? During this workshop the Working Group launched a virtual site for further exchange of information amongst the experts from the three countries. The Working Group further conducted and participated in a series of debate sessions which allowed experts in the three countries to engage further on slum upgrading and related issues. IBSA arrangement has appointed anchors (SA Cities Network, ABC in Brazil and Institute of Management in India) that will further assist in jointly strengthening of the cooperation.
The anchor institutions have jointly produced a draft strategic discussion document which outlines a framework for on-going trilateral collaboration and knowledge exchange between practitioners, civil society organisations and academics within IBSA.
United Nations Programme for Human Settlements(UNHABITAT) / South Africa is the member of and annually pays contribution to the UN HABITAT / 1994 / Ongoing / South Africa is the member of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN HABITAT which is mandated to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. South Africa remains committed to the UN HABITAT because sustainable human settlements are central to South Africa’s commitment to the reduction of poverty and improving people’s lives. South Africa participates in the UN HABITAT Governing Council which discusses amongst others the work programme and budget of the UN Habitat. South Africa further participates in the Resolutions drafting groups of the Governing Council in order to advocate Africa’s interests.
Through involvement in the UN HABITAT, South Africa participates in the World Urban Forum) which examines one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. South Africa has been at the forefront in the establishment of WUF and has participated in all the previous WUF since its inception in 2002, including the 6th World Urban Forum held from 1-7 September in Italy. The report of our participation will be presented at the roundtable for the launch of National Human Settlements and Urban Forum scheduled for end of October 2012.
Cities Alliance / South Africa is the member of the Cities Network since 2006 years / Membership renewed in 2012 for another 5 years / In 2012 South Africa renewed its membership in the Cities Alliance for another five years / The Cities Alliance is an institution of World Cities with a common goal of identifying successful approaches to poverty reduction and was established in 1999.
South Africa annually participate in the annual meetings of the Cities Alliance (Executive Committee and the Consultative Group meetings) which decides on operational and strategic issues pertaining to the Cities Alliance, reviews and accepts the Annual Report, elects members to the various committees, reviews the project plans and programmes, as well as set priorities for the coming year. From 2009-2012 South Africa was an elected as member of Executive Committee and lobbied for financial and technical resources for the betterment of Africa’s urban development and for our own programmes in human settlements development such as funding in the projects like Johannesburg City Level Comprehensive Development Framework; Upgrading for Growth: Implementing the Breaking New Ground Policy within Ekurhuleni's City Development Strategy; The Tshwane Sustainable Human Settlement Strategy and Financing Plan; Strengthening the National Upgrading Support Programme to mention a few. In January 2012, South Africa extended it membership in the Cities Alliance for further five years in order to continue to influence decisions on urban development in the Cities Alliance.
African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD) / African Ministerial Conference on Housing and Urban Development (AMCHUD) is an initiative by Housing Ministers of the five regions in Africa to tackle issues associated with urban development such as migration to the urban areas and shortage of housing in order to realize sustainable human settlements. It was established at its first conference held in 2005, South Africa. Its scope of work is guided amongst others by the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Goal 7 which seeks to ensure environmental sustainability and targets on water, sanitation and slums. However, the issue of urban land markets was highlighted as the critical in both the Durban Declaration and the Enhanced Framework for Implementation for Housing and Urban Development at the first AMCHUD Conference and the Abuja Declaration and Programme of Action adopted by the second AMCHUD conference.
AMCHUD is made up of five bureau members from each of the five regions in Africa. South Africa has been interim Secretariat of AMCHUD since 2005 until in March 2012 when she handed over the responsibility to Kenya.
However, South Africa is still an active member of the AMCHUD Bureau. Through the AMCHUD Bureau, South Africa will continue to lobby and influence decisions which will foster for recognition and development of Africa. Furthermore, South Africa will continue to provide Kenya with the necessary support it requires as the host of the permanent Secretariat and make annual contribution to enable effective execution of the AMCHUD work programme.
Cuba / Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and
the Government of the Republic of Cuba on the Employment of Cuban Technical Advisors by the Relevant South African Provincial Department of Housing. / November 2004, renewed in 2007, and 2011 / November 2014 / Currently, there are 23 Cuban Technical Advisors (CTAs) employed in South Africa.
33 More CTAs have been recruited during the visit to work in Mpumalanga, Western Cape and the National Sanitation Programme pending approval by respective Departments for Phase 3 of the South Africa Cuban Technical Support Programme. The Department is working on the action plan towards the review of the agreement to focus on:
· Inclusion of recruitment of special sanitation engineers
· Cooperation in the field of social building brigades to enhance our youth and women programmes in PHP projects
· Exchange programme on training of engineers to strengthen the skills transfer component of the agreement.
China / Exchange of notes on the construction of 400 houses under the China-Assisted housing programme in Graskop / 1999, renewed in September 2004, renewed again through Exchange of Notes in August 2009 / On-going / Under implementation. Due to time delays, and rising costs the number of houses to be built by the govt of China has been reduced to 170 Exchange Notes to accommodate reduction of houses to 170 was signed in 2009, however, due to further time delays caused by amendments to the designs and approval of the additional budget by central government of China, construction of 170 houses has been on hold/delayed.
Angola / Memorandum of Understanding on Co-operation in the field of Human Settlements / 20 August 2009 / 20 August 2013 / This MOU is intended to provide a platform for engagements on human settlements issues and related matters. The Department is still awaiting the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to coordinate Technical visits to discuss and unlock some of the challenges experienced in implementation of the signed agreements with Angola.
Germany / Agreement between the Government of South Africa and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning Financial Co-operation / 25 November 2008 / On-going / This is an Agreement managed by National Treasury. As a component thereof, Rural Housing Loan Fund (RHLF) is receiving funding from the German Development Bank, (KfW). The second round of allocations is currently underway. This will be a grant of EUR500, 000.
USA / Social Compact entered into with US Youth Build International, the Department of Housing and UMSOBOMVU Youth Fund / 06 February 2008 / On-going / Focus on implementation of Youth Build Programmes in Gauteng and the Free State Provinces. Currently 176 youth have being trained in construction related skills and 100 units have being completed by youth. 100 new units are earmarked for this financial year.
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