National Development Agency
The NDA is mandated, through the NDA Act, to carry out the following primary and secondary mandates:
Primary mandate
To contribute towards the eradication of poverty and its causes by granting funds to civil society organisations for the purpose of:
- implementing development projects for poor communities
- strengthening the institutional capacity of other civil society organisations that provide services to the poor
Secondary mandate
To promote consultation dialogue and sharing of development experience between civil society organisations and relevant organs of state, debate development policy and to undertake research and publication aimed at providing the basis for development policy.
The NDA lives its purpose and delivers against its vision within the following legislative framework:
- The National Development Act 1998 (Act No 108 of 1998)
- The Public Finance Management Act 1999 (Act No 29 of 1999)
- The Treasury Regulations 2002 (Gazette No 23463 dated 25 May 2002)
Main services, programmes, projects and initiatives
The NDA provides grants to civil society organisations to implement sustainable community driven projects that create employment and income opportunities. All funded projects are informed by the Cabinet Lekgotla resolutions on poverty eradication, the government programme of action on poverty, as well as the Provincial Growth and Development Strategies (PGDS) and municipal Integrated Development Plans (IDPs).
The project funding model encapsulates Programme Formulation and Request for Proposals. Civil society organisations are encouraged to apply for funding based on envisioned projects or programmes. All submissions are scrutinised to ascertain business case, relevance and financial sustainability.
Successful proposals are then submitted to the Board for approval. Projects are funded over a three-year period and are monitored on a regular basis to ensure alignment and adherence to contractual obligations.
The majority of the civil society organisations lack institutional capacity to conceptualise and implement developmental projects. The NDA works through intermediaries for the purpose of strengthening the institutional capacity of sector organisations that provide services to the poor.
The capacity-building programme is part of the NDA’s contribution to the government-led Jobs for Growth initiative. The NDA mobilises communities, CBOs, FBOs, NGOs and traditional leadership around the importance of leveraging opportunities created by government and other role-players that have the potential of improving their asset base and creating jobs.
Flagship projects
Since its inception, the NDA in Mpumalanga has funded approximately 46 projects, in food security and income generation. Below is a sample of our flagship projects in the province. These projects have demonstrated the potential to generate income while at the same time reversing the frontiers of poverty and restoring human dignity.
- Mphatlalatsane Cooking Oil Cooperative Limited is a cooperative based in Grootvlei in Dipaleseng Local Municipality within Gert Sibande District. The key objective is to promote the economic interests and standards of living of its members and the community in general by engaging in trading and development activities. The NDA allocated R1 481 230 for 18 months to address project activities such as institutional capacity building, production development, infrastructure developments and project management. This project employs 50 people with a downstream beneficiation of about 500 people. Members have been trained in cooking oil making by Rotek. Through the NDA’s intervention, project members have already been trained in financial management, organisational development and governance, monitoring and evaluation, business and strategic planning, and production data management.
- Likusasalethu Leatherfern Project was established in 1986 by 10 subsistence maize farmers. It is located in Nkomazi Local Municipality at Driekoppies, a rural area in Ehlanzeni District. The NDA committed R1 990 031 over 24 months towards the attainment of the following business activities: growing Leatherfern on 10 hectares of land, grading and packaging, exporting Leatherfern to the Netherlands (main market), and supplying Multi-flora in Johannesburg and Pretoria. These activities have thus far benefited 125 direct beneficiaries. Through this project the members have been given the opportunity for income-generation and development, 54 permanent jobs have been created and 35 local seasonal workers have been employed.
- Shabalala Community Centre is a community initiative, which started in 1997 with a sewing project consisting of 15 women. In 2005, the project responded to the NDA Board for proposals and the pre-cast project was approved for the amount of R608 666. The project seeks to create employment and promote sustainable small business development. This has been achieved through the establishment of a local production unit within the Shabalala community, manufacturing a range of pre-cast cement products to be used in local government infrastructure programmes and by the community at large. Local government intends to support the project by procuring infrastructure material at Shabalala for Hazyview, Nsikazi and Numbi for the next 10 years. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and Mbombela Municipality have endorsed the project for their sanitation programme. Currently the project is delivering about 2 000 bricks per day to the local contractors for low-cost housing projects in the area.
- Mukhanyo Community Development Centre (MCDC) started in August 2003. The aim of the project is to help the former KwaNdebele community fight the problems of orphans and vulnerable children, as well as Aids and poverty by promoting food security and clothing for 80% of orphaned and vulnerable children identified, by increasing access to quality home-based care for people living with Aids and their families by 50%, and by improving access to water, sanitation and safe housing for families in the programme.
- Highlights of the programme include:
• A hydroponics system was constructed and is functioning well with a tank installed for chemicals and plant food; 7 000 seedlings of tomatoes have been planted in the shadenet, which are being packed and sold on first season.
• 80 people have been trained in Eco-Circle and 35 Eco-Circle gardens have been established in various homes. At this stage the project’s focus is on organic farming, sewing, training and management.
• Hydro Consulting was responsible for training in hydroponics as per SAQA standards and is currently providing pest training mentoring to the project in hydroponics farming. Learners were issued with certificates after completing the assessment.
• The sewing aspect of the programme started with eight members who have been trained. They are producing school uniforms, curtains, garments and uniforms which are being supplied to 272 orphaned children.
- No of staff: 101
Affiliated institutions: National Department of Social Development
Total grant received budget: R136 267 000
Key contact people:
Mr Godfrey Mokate, Chief Executive Officer
Mr Reuben Mogano, Executive Director Development Management
Mr Nimrod Oupa Mbele, Mpumalanga Provincial Manager
- Phone Number
013 755 3777 - Company Fax
013 753 2244 - Postal Address
16 Brander Street, Biwaters Building, Nelspruit - Website: www.nda.org.za
