Evidence-Based Policy Development in South Africa: the Case of Provincial Growth and Development Strategies

Marais, Lochner; Matebesi, Zacheus

doi:10.1007/s12132-012-9179-4

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…In this regard, one of the most important recent developments in policy-making practise is the concept of evidence-based policy-making. According to Marais and Matebesi (2013), the concept has risen to prominence internationally and it emphasises the provision of quality services that are ideologically free, pragmatic, forwardlooking, strategic, responsive, effective, efficient, and scientific.…”

Section: Background To Current Governance Policy and Legislationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development and Implementation in South Africa

Lukey

Hall

2020

Biological Invasions in South Africa

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This Chapter describes and reviews the evolving biological invasion policy and legislation development and its implementation in South Africa over approximately the last 160 years. Despite the lack of formal, published government policy on biological invasions, there has been an almost continuous process of law-making over the years, with 50 pieces of being passed since the Xanthium Spinosum Act of 1861. The fundamental legal approach has changed little over this time, with a strong preference for what we have called the 'identify and direct' approach-a 'problem' species is identified and specific people are directed to deal with that species in a specified way. The concept of 'faultless liability' often associated with this approach has been equally resilient (e.g. a landowner is held responsible for clearing invasions on their land even if they were not responsible for introducing the species to the area in the first place). The review also suggests that, from a purely biological invasion management perspective, the South African 'job-provision' policy driver that has dominated biological invasion management activities since the new democratic dispensation in 1994 may have some perverse impacts in the absence of formal biological invasion policy. One of the key conclusions (with the proviso that biological invasions are indeed a significant threat to South African society, the economy, and the environment) is that a comprehensive evidence-based policy-making process should be instituted as a matter of urgency. It is also suggested that climate change concerns and interest in the global Sustainable Development Goals may provide the perfect 'policy-development window' for the development of formal policy on biological invasion in South Africa.

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Section: Background To Current Governance Policy and Legislationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development and Implementation in South Africa

Lukey

Hall

2020

Biological Invasions in South Africa

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“…The policy ought to be informed by research to guide the nature and spatial focus of interventions and ensure relevant and desirable outcomes. The relationship between research and policy has grown in prominence, with the former playing an important role in providing evidence in the formulation and implementation of the latter [8]. Robinson et al [9] (p. 1) state that this "evidence revolution"-the notion that research ought to contribute to evidence-based policy-has proliferated across diverse policy and spatial contexts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence to Inform Resilience Policy in the SADC: Current Limitations and Future Research Areas

Pretorius

Drewes

Gumbo

2022

World

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The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its member countries are potentially vulnerable to external disturbances, including environmental, economic, and social shocks. Regional policy emphasizes interventions to ensure long-term growth and development in the face of potential disturbance. Current emphasis is placed on mitigating the impact of climate change, including the creation of the SADC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan. However, the need for long-term adaptation and associated policy is evident to reduce regional vulnerabilities. Research is an important source of evidence to support policymaking, with specific importance to institutions in developing regions such as the SADC and during times of global change and disruption. SADC development policy related to resilience outcomes ought to be informed by research. This paper investigates the extent to which existing research supports regional resilience policymaking. Objectives include investigating available research on resilience in the SADC, identifying potential limitations, and delineating areas of future research to be considered by researchers that contribute to knowledge and evidence creation. A bibliometric review and selective content review of existing research were utilized. Relevant publications for the aforesaid analysis were delineated using the source concepts “resilience”, “adaptation”, “adaptability”, and “Southern African Development Community” (or “SADC”). Using the SCOPUS database, bibliometric data of 65 publications were imported into the VOSviewer application (v.1.6.17). Keyword occurrences and network and overlay visualizations were applied to identify the research themes underlying current research. The findings, which were supported by the selective content review, indicate that existing research focuses primarily on environmental and social disturbances, while the applicable regional planning scale and development policy are considered to a limited extent. Areas of future research ought to create evidence that is thematically relevant to policy areas and applicable to policy interventions, which necessitates increased research on economic disturbances, a broadening of existing themes to the appropriate regional planning scale, and consideration of explicit regional development objectives and policy. Transdisciplinarity ought to be central to future research on the diverse disturbances facing the region, while researchers ought to leverage knowledge-creation opportunities catalyzed by SDG implementation.

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“…Numerous interventions have been implemented to alleviate unemployment (Independent Evaluation Group 2013;McCarthy 2008). Despite the benefits of evidence-based practices (see Heckman, Lalonde & Smith 1999;Ravallion 2008), it is startling to see that most vocational interventions are consensus-based -implying that the interventions are based on what the stakeholders think is necessary, without the supporting evidence to prove what is really needed (Marais & Matebesi 2013). Considering the urgency of unemployment, the shortage of evidencebased practices in South Africa is a concern.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systematic literature review of the implementation and evaluation of the JOBS programme: A suggested framework for South Africa

Paver

Witte

Rothmann

et al. 2020

South African Journal of Economic and management Sciences

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Background: South Africa is challenged with high levels of unemployment, comprising many people with low levels of education and also individuals who have never held a job before. Despite having many vulnerable participants, interventions aimed at the unemployed generally exclude psychosocial training and are methodologically weak. Aim:The JOBS programme, a scientifically sound intervention, has been developed specifically to help people affected by unemployment to cope with the psychological effects. As a means of applying such a programme in South Africa, this study aimed to develop a framework based on the insights gained on the implementation and evaluation of the JOBS programme. Methods:The study comprised a systematic review of literature regarding the JOBS intervention and its derivatives (n = 34). Results:The results revealed that populations similar to the unemployed in South Africa had benefitted significantly regarding re-employment and mental health outcomes. Conclusion:Suggestions derived from the literature included aiming the programme at the most vulnerable unemployed in South Africa: the youth and long-term unemployed. Furthermore, expanding the programme by adding an entrepreneurial component may yield positive results, considering the lack of employment opportunities in South Africa.

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Evidence-Based Policy Development in South Africa: the Case of Provincial Growth and Development Strategies

Cited by 6 publications

References 10 publications

Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development and Implementation in South Africa

Biological Invasion Policy and Legislation Development and Implementation in South Africa

Evidence to Inform Resilience Policy in the SADC: Current Limitations and Future Research Areas

A systematic literature review of the implementation and evaluation of the JOBS programme: A suggested framework for South Africa

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