The CSA consists of three programmes:
Programme 1 - Monitoring and Research (PSAM)
The Centre continues to develop and implement the PSAM monitoring methodology by evaluating public expenditure management and service delivery in South Africa, and in particular the Eastern Cape Provincial Administration. Through its monitoring and research programme (the PSAM), the Centre aims to improve public service delivery and the realisation of socio-economic rights to basic services such as healthcare, education and housing. It aims to do this through the strengthening of social accountability processes (including resource allocation, strategic planning, performance monitoring, expenditure management, integrity and oversight processes). The main objective of Programme 1 is to give effect to the right to social accountability through the use of social accountability monitoring tools and advocacy.
The CSA provides two forms of training, as well as mentoring, to interested actors in the Southern Africa region:
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The Fundamentals of Social Accountability Monitoring certificate course
This 11-day Rhodes University accredited certificate course provides an introduction to the CSA's rights-based approach to social accountability monitoring. It covers a range of available monitoring approaches and applied monitoring and advocacy tools from the PSAM as well as other CSOs in Southern Africa. The course is held in Grahamstown, South Africa.
To learn more about the course, click here. -
Exposure workshops
These range from three hours to three days in duration and provide exposure to the right to social accountability and/or the concept of systematic social accountability monitoring (which covers the entire public resource management cycle from strategic planning, to resource allocation, implementation, integrity management, and finally oversight). These workshops are held throughout the Southern Africa region in response to requests from partner/interested organisations. -
Mentoring
The CSA, in partnership with the International Budget Project (IBP), provides mentoring on the implementation of the rights-based approach and/or monitoring tools to civic interest groups.In order to qualify for the CSA mentoring programme, civic interest groups from those Southern African states which form part of the CSA’s focus area will be required to:- attend and successfully complete The Fundamentals of Social Accountability Monitoring certificate course;
- present a one-year project proposal setting out the rights-based approach and relevant social accountability monitoring tools they intend to implement;
- successfully apply to the IBP to obtain financial support, which will solicit funding proposals from Southern African groups engaged in, or seeking to become engaged in, public resource management and social accountability work, and
- draw up, in conjunction with the CSA, terms of reference for the mentoring over the project period.
The aim of the CSA’s academic programme is to institutionalise the demand for social accountability among future civil society leaders and policy makers at universities in the
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