PROGRAM: South Africa
TITLE AND NUMBER: Democratic Consolidation Advanced, 674-001
STATUS: Continuing
PLANNED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $9,003,000 DA
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $6,779,000 DA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1996 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2005

Summary: Despite two free, fair, and increasingly peaceful general elections, as well as a strong constitutional, statutory, and institutional framework for an enduring democracy, the consolidation of South Africa's emerging democracy is constrained by an alarming crime rate, weak local governance and ineffective civil society-state relations. These ills threaten a basic social contract where government protects the rights of and delivers services to citizens, and citizens meet their obligations to government. South Africa's ability to engage the United States as a partner on issues of U.S. national interest depends upon the successful transformation of South Africa to a representative, non-racial democracy where democratic norms are observed, human rights respected and good governance practiced. USAID's democracy and governance program supports the efforts of South Africans to strengthen linkages between citizens and government institutions, with special emphasis on rule of law and criminal justice, democratic and effective local governance, and the sustainability of civil society.

USAID's rule of law assistance reflects South Africa's priority of strengthening the criminal justice system and expanding access to justice. USAID's local governance assistance promotes effective and democratic engagement between citizens and municipal governments, the sphere of government closest to the people that has a high level of responsibility for the delivery of basic services. USAID assistance to civil society is aimed primarily at helping South African civil society organizations become institutionally and financially more sustainable, through better service delivery and policy development partnerships with government. The ultimate beneficiaries of improved governance and democratic processes are South African citizens, particularly, members of the historically disadvantaged majority population. Intermediate beneficiaries are national, provincial and local governments, parliamentarians and civil society organizations.

Key Results: In FY 2000, USAID contributed to the following major accomplishments of South African government and civil society counterparts: (1) promulgation of the Equity Bill, South Africa's principal piece of civil rights legislation; (2) continued diversification of South Africa's legal profession so that it increasingly reflects the ethnic and racial make-up of the country; (3) projected increase from 50% to 57% of South Africans who are aware of their human rights; (4) finalization of the Municipal Systems Bill and Property Rating Bill, which are key pieces of legislation required for effective and democratic local governance; (5) final demarcation of boundaries for South Africa's consolidated municipal system, legal establishment of these newly demarcated municipalities, and voter education in six of the country's nine provinces, to ensure that citizens cast informed and valid votes in the December 2000 elections that ushered in this final system of constitutional local government; and (6) promulgation of the Income Tax Amendments Act, which enables more financially sustainable civil society organizations through tax exemptions and tax deductions for charitable giving.

Performance and Prospects: In FY 2001, democracy and governance funds of $8,803,000 and $200,000 in economic growth funds from the Development Assistance account will be used to support several activities. USAID's work with the Ministry of Justice continues to support the transformation of the justice system to better serve all South Africans, particularly the historically disadvantaged population. Recognizing that fighting crime is a top priority of the South African government and citizens, the program focus was increased on strengthening and modernizing the criminal justice system. Slightly over one-third of USAID's FY 2001 democracy and governance program funding will be devoted to this activity, providing support for court management training and technical assistance, development and implementation of crime prevention strategies by non-governmental organizations, and more effective sexual offense courts. USAID will continue to improve the local government finance framework, with almost one-half of FY 2001 funds going to support work with 22 municipalities to help them plan, raise revenue, and operate in accordance with the new policy framework for democratic local governance. To broaden the impact of the program, lessons from these municipalities will be systematically shared with other municipalities, thereby contributing to the overall strength of the country's new local government system. In FY 2000 USAID initiated a civil society sustainability program which will strengthen the policy environment for greater charitable giving and tax exemptions for non-profit organizations, and will share innovative approaches for civil society and government partnerships for service delivery. About one-sixth of FY 2001 funding will be devoted to this activity, with program implementation beginning to hit full stride during the year.

In FY 2002 USAID will support the efforts of South Africans to strengthen linkages between citizens and government institutions, with special emphasis on rule of law and criminal justice, democratic and effective local governance, and the sustainability of civil society. This will involve criminal court training and technical assistance, local government capacity building, and civil society organization strengthening.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: None.

Other Donor Programs: The United States is among the top three democracy and governance donors in South Africa. At the national level, the European Union, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Nations, Australia and Germany are providing democracy and governance-related assistance. Many of the same donors are working at the provincial level to strengthen the capacity of government and community support organizations. In relation to USAID's rule of law, local governance, and civil society strengthening programs, the South African Government is providing significant resources to carry out its plans in these areas and is actively coordinating assistance from donors (including USAID) with complementary objectives.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: The democracy and governance program is implemented by South African government institutions, a wide range of South African non-governmental organizations and U.S. private voluntary organizations. Government partners include the Ministries of Justice and Provincial Affairs and Local Government. Other South African partners include the Institute for Multiparty Democracy; the Center for Human Rights; the Black Lawyers Association; the Center for Social and Legal Studies; and the African Center for the Cooperative Resolution of Disputes. Principal U.S. partners include the Department of Justice; the International Republican Institute; the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs; the American Center for International Labor Solidarity; the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; Creative Associates International, Inc.; and PACT.

FY 2002 Performance Tables

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