Back Southern & East Africa: South Africa South Africa Update NDI worked in South Africa for nearly a decade to support the country's transition to a participatory constitutional democracy. NDI offered assistance inside and outside government in the areas of: parliamentary development local government policy support political party training election administration voter education NGO capacity-building Key partnerships in NDI's South Africa program included: Parliament: National Council of Provinces NDI worked to assist in establishing the second house of Parliament, the National Council of Provinces. At the direction of the then-Chairperson Patrick Lekota, NDI provided study missions, technical assistance and comparative research to help define the role and responsibilities of this unique legislative body. NDI continued to provide extensive support to MPs and staff in their efforts to improve the NCOP's legislative capacity. In late 1999, NCOP and NDI used USAID and private sector support to design and launch NCOP Online! The cutting edge information management system and website was intended to promote public access to the legislative process and assist the NCOP's provincial and local government delegations in representing their constituents more effectively and efficiently. Over the years, NDI provided targeted assistance to the National Assembly, particularly through the Committee on Members' Interests and the Portfolio Committee on Provincial and Local Government. The National Assembly Finance Committee requested NDI to provide international comparative research on budget processes. Local Government: South African Local Government Association NDI's support for the development of the 1997 White Paper on Local Governance made way for one of the Institute's strongest partnerships, with the South African Local Government Association. Mandated in the Constitution to be the "voice of organized local government," SALGA has an unparalleled responsibility to represent local government interests in policy-making at national and provincial level through the NCOP and other intergovernmental policy forums. NDI helped SALGA's political leadership and staff build capacity in the areas of advocacy and policy, organizational development and information technology. Good Governance: Ethics and other policies Over the course of several years, NDI made contributions to policies central to the consolidation of democracy in South Africa. Along with local government, those include political party funding, traditional leadership, intergovernmental relations and ethics. With President Mbeki's strong commitment to fighting corruption in the public sector, ethics support continues to be a central program area for NDI in South Africa and the region. NDI worked with the Public Service Commission to support a publication series on ethics in government. NGO Partnerships: University of the Western Cape and Street Law After the 1994 elections, NDI maintained close links with the South African NGO community. Two formal subgrant relationships were established. The first was with the School of Government at the University of the Western Cape, to promote study of intergovernmental relations. The second was with the university-based NGO Street Law, to build its capacity to conduct focus group research. Street Law conducted a nationwide study on HIV/AIDS for an inter-ministerial committee led by President Mbeki. Contact Information For more information on NDI's work in Southern and East Africa, please contact: Brionne Dawson, Program Officer Send Email Back