Book 2 5 - United Nations

1 Compiled by the CDW Unit, Ministry for public Service and AdministrationAA HANDBOOK FOR community DEVELOPMENT WORKERS!EKKE //E A /ARXRMINISTRYPUBLIC SERVICE AND ADMINISTRATIONA Handbook For Community Development WorkersPublished by the Ministry for public Service and Administration 2007 ResearchersFlorence MalekaVincent MoneneRachel BrowneEmmanuel KgomoItumeleng LedwabaMabaeng DlaminiNelson KgweteEditorClari t y Edi torialProduction Rachel BrowneDesign and layoutPuisanoThe publication of this Handbook for Community Development Workers registers an important step forward in South Africa's developmental agenda. Community development workers (CDWs) are a fundamental building block of the public service.

2 Their commitment and hard work in the effort to create a better life for all is to be commended. Since it began in 2003 this programme has accomplished a great deal. With dedication and enthusiasm, CDWs are working every day in poor and marginalised communities throughout South Africa. The programme is beginning to bridge the gap between the government and those in greatest need of the services provided by the state. We are publishing this handbook as a comprehensive reference guide for CDWs. The book will also serve as a useful resource for others touched by the programme, including ward councillors, ward committees, students studying in the development field, social workers, community-based organisations and civil society organisations.

3 As South Africa's developmental agenda evolves in line with the country's broader social and economic imperatives, so does the CDW programme. Accordingly, the national task team coordinating the programme intends to update this handbook on an annual basis so that the cadres will be kept abreast of all programme developments. We hope that this handbook will be a valuable guideline in community development work, and in creating a better life for all South Africans. Geraldine J Fraser-MoleketiMinister for public Service and AdministrationForewordCBOC ommunity-based organisationCDWC ommunity development workerCDWPC ommunity development worker programmeDPLGD epartment of Provincial and Local GovernmentDPSAD epartment of public Service and AdministrationGCISG overnment Communication and Information SystemLG SETAL ocal Government SETANGONon-governmental organisationNQFN ational Qualifications FrameworkRDPR econstruction and Development ProgrammeSALGAS outh African Local Government AssociationSAQAS outh African Qualifications AuthoritySAMDIS outh African Management Development InstituteSETAS ector Education and

4 Training AuthorityAcronymsA Presidential Programme led by the Ministers for the public Service and Administration and Provincial & Local Government in partnership with:The Government Communication and Information System The South African Management Development Institute The South African Local Government Association The Department of Labour Provincial governments4 The Community Development Worker ProgrammeIntroductionThe HandbookThe ProgrammeThe Thinking Behind The ProgrammeCoordinationWhat Is a Community Development Worker?The CDW at WorkCDWs, Councillors And Ward CommitteesRoles And ResponsibilitiesBatho PeleRelationship With Other Community DevelopersCDW Education And TrainingLocation and DeploymentCoordination And Reporting RequirementsFrequently Asked QuestionsLegislation, Publications And Other ResourcesUseful Information.

5 Guidelines and ToolsGovernment's Communication StrategyService Centres and GatewaysHow To Call and Run a MeetingCompiling a Community ProfileContentsSSECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 1666991419212325253238424449525354565 Supporting InformationRaising Finance For ProjectsGrantsWriting a Case StudyAction Plan TemplateBatho Pele Principles6671757880 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 1 TTHE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER PROGRAMMEINTRODUCTIONWe welcome you to the community development worker programme (CDWP) and hope that you will find this handbook useful. As a community development worker you are in the special position of being able to help the people in your community gain access to the range of services provided by the government.

6 You are also in the important position of giving feedback to government structures on your communities' needs and how these services are HandbookThis handbook will help you to improve your understanding of your roles and responsibilities as a CDW. It will tell you more about the CDW learnership programme: how long it will take, what will be expected of you and how the learnership is run. The handbook is full of useful information on related topics that will build on your existing knowledge, such as convening meetings, writing reports and compiling a profile of the community you work in. It spells out various ways in which CDWs can work effectively and efficiently.

7 This book should also be useful for people who may want to become CDWs as well as people in other government structures who are linked to the programme. The ProgrammeThe CDWP, which began in 2003, requires participants to work across 6 Section 1 THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER PROGRAMME different levels of government to help people to access the services available to them. To understand why the government decided to launch the CDWP, it is useful to understand the democratic government's approach to social welfare. The 1997 White Paper on Social Welfare summarised this approach as follows: The goal of developmental social welfare is a humane, peaceful, just and caring society which will uphold welfare rights, facilitate the meeting of basic human needs, release people's creative energies, help them achieve their aspirations, build human capacity and self-reliance, and participate fully in all spheres of social, economic and political life.

8 South Africans will be afforded the opportunity to play an active role in promoting their own well-being and in contributing to the growth and development of our nation. The challenge facing the welfare system is to devise appropriate and integrated strategies to address the alienation and the economic and social marginalisation of vast sectors of the population who are living in poverty, are vulnerable, and have special needs. An intersectoral response is needed within government and between government and civil society to adequately address welfare needs. A further challenge is to address past disparities and fragmentation of the institutional framework in the delivery of welfare services.

9 Six years later, in his 2003 State of the Nation address, President Thabo Mbeki presented the rationale for the CDWP, carrying forward the government's stated intention to address the economic and social marginalisation of the majority of South Africans: Government will create a public service echelon of multi-skilled community development workers who will maintain direct contact 7 Section 1with people where these masses live. We are determined to ensure that government goes to the people so that we sharply improve the quality of the outcomes of public expenditure intended to raise the standards of living of our people. It is wrong that government should oblige people to come to government even in circumstances in which people do not know what services the government offers and have no means for transport to reach government offices.

10 The President also reminded us that it is a constitutional responsibility of government to ensure that citizens have access to and receive quality services, which include information, social security, sufficient food and water, health care, and an administration that is lawful and reasonable, with fair have highlighted some of the President's words to show how important it is for you to be multi-skilled, and to work in direct contact with communities to ensure that citizens have access to quality services. As a CDW you are expected to know about services provided by various departments at different levels of government. It is essential that all levels of government cooperate to give citizens a complete package of services that will improve their conditions.