| Overview : The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) is the lead agency of the rural development programme based on “agrarian transformation”, which the 2009 Comprehensive Rural Development Programme Framework (CRDP) refers to as the “rapid and fundamental change in the systems and patterns of ownership and control of land, livestock, cropping and community”. To give effect to this mandate, the CRDP seeks to facilitate integrated development and social cohesion through participatory approaches in partnership with all sectors of society. Rural development is aimed at socio-economic transformation, where rural people will take control of their destiny through the optimal use and management of natural resources and indigenous knowledge. It will deploy a three-pronged strategy of production and livelihoods support, land reform, and economic and social infrastructure development. Complexities and unique challenges of each rural space should be taken into account, and since service provision is the responsibility of various departments and tiers or “spheres” of government, coordination and integration needs to be maximised. “Vibrant and sustainable communities” are envisaged who are oriented towards innovation, enhance traditional knowledge with new technologies, use natural resources productively and diversify their livelihoods. The National Development Plan (NDP) of 2012 also pleads for an integrated and inclusive rural economy, in which communities participate more in the country’s economic, social and political life. Land reform, job creation and agricultural production need to contribute to such an economy. The NDP further identifies seven (7) key drivers of the “rural economy” in South Africa which are: agriculture, agro-processing, fisheries, forestry, tourism, green economy and mining. The wide range of opportunities in rural areas thus require support strategies tailored to local conditions and improved coordination between the national, provincial and municipal government spheres. It is against this general background of the ongoing elaboration of policy interventions of agrarian transformation, rural economic and social development as well as improved inter-governmental and stakeholder coordination and alignment, that this proposal for the exploration and preparation of a Rural Economy Model and Outlook Framework for South Africa is submitted. Consulatncy: Identification of a representative sample of high potential impact case studies for rural economy drivers in South Africa to test and customize models of assessment, transformation and outlook projection |
