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Nominee Information

Institutional Information
Member State South Africa
Institution Name NKANGALA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
Institution Type Public Enterprise
Administrative Level Local
Name of initiative REDUCTION OF WASTE MANAGEMENT BACKLOG FROM LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES
Projects Operational Years 3
Website of Institution www.nkangaladm.gov.za

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 01 Jul 2013

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? through SALGA

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative
Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.

Question 3: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Question 4: Implementation Date
Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 01 Jul 2013

Question 5: Partners
Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 6: Supporting documentation
Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 7: UNPSA Awards
Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 8: Other Awards
Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 9: How did you learn about UNPSA?
How did you learn about UNPSA? through SALGA

Question 10: Validation Consent
I give consent to contact relevant persons and entities to inquire about the initiative for validation purpose. No

Question 1: About the Initiative

Is this a public sector initiative? Yes

Question 2: Categories
Is the initiative relevant to one of the UNPSA categories? Reaching the poorest and most vulnerable through inclusive services and partnerships
UNPSACriteria
2017.1.1 Introduces an idea, policy, practice or structure that is distinctively new, innovative and unique in the context of a given country or region, for reaching the poorest and most vulnerable and ensuring that they make progress towards the SDGs
2017.1.2 Increases the access of the poorest and most vulnerable people to quality and affordable public services. This can be done notably by addressing the obstacles that hinder their access to public services such as geography, income or other social or economic factors, security issues, care burden, mobility, discrimination related to sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity and other factors depending on the country or regional context. This can also include introducing new approaches to delivering services or claiming rights and obtaining benefits, so that the poorest and most vulnerable can access those more easily.
2017.1.4 Encourage and promote effective partnerships between public, private and civil society organizations to deliver public services or respond to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable. Those can be based on experience and strategies that can empower the poorest and most vulnerable to reach the SDGs in various areas
2017.1.5 Creates mechanisms to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable (and those who represent or assist them) can easily obtain information about public services -notably services related to the SDGs- , related decisions and approaches, as well as about their own rights and entitlements.
2017.1.6 Creates mechanisms that can help the poorest and most vulnerable (and those representing or assisting them) to hold the government accountable on the delivery of public services. This may include mechanisms allowing them to provide feedback on the relevance, quality and cost of public services; report any wrongdoing; initiate investigations; file complaints or request compensation where relevant.

Question 3: Implementation Date

Has the initiative been implemented for two or more years Yes
Please provide date of implemenation (dd/MM/yyyy) 01 Jul 2013

Question 4: Partners/Stakeholders

Has the United Nations or any UN agencies been involved in this initiative? No
Which UN agency was involved? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Please provide details

Question 5: Required Supplemental Documents

Will you be able to provide supporting documentation for your initiative? Yes

Question 6: UNPSA Awards

Has the initiative already won a UNPS Award? No

Question 7: Other Awards

Has the initiative won other Public Service Awards? No

Question 8: Sustainable Development Goals
Is the initiative relevant to any of the 17 SDG(s)? Yes
If you answered yes above, please specify which SDG is the most relevant to the initiative. (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Which target(s) within the SDGs specified above is the initiative relevant to? (hold Ctrl to select multiple)
12.4 By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle, in accordance with agreed international frameworks, and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil in order to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment
12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse

Question 9: Validation Consent

Do you have any objections to us inquiring about the initiative for validation purposes? No

How did you know about UNPSA?

How did you know about UNPSA? through SALGA

Nomination form

Questions/Answers

Question 1

Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
Municipalities play a fundamental role in managing development and in the delivery of essential services to the people of South Africa. The way they carry out their functions directly affects people and the environment in which they live. Municipalities must be able to make choices that will promote sustainable living, especially in the area of managing household waste and waste from other sources. Municipalities will be moving towards sustainability if they take into account the economic, social and natural environmental factors in any activity that they undertake. When we produce waste, it eventually returns to the natural environment - to land, water or the air. The environment that receives the waste must be able to assimilate it (take it up) without becoming degraded or polluted. Waste must be disposed of in a way that does not have an adverse effect on the environment. The local municipalities are challenged by not being able to collect waste or service all the areas due to rapid urbanisation and migration, hence municipalities around Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) have a huge waste collection backlog. NDM supported the local municipalities at their request by buying waste collection machinery e.g waste compactors, waste containers, tractors ect. Environmental education and awareness have been strengthen around all the six local municipalities on waste recycling and re-use. After the implementation of the projects in six local municipalities, waste backlog have been reduced by supporting the local municipalities with waste equipment.
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
To ensure the human rights of public are not infringed according the RSA Constitution To ensure the implementation of National waste Management strategy. To ensure the local municipalities are able to implement their responsibilities by providing basic services.(waste management)
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
The initiative of reducing the waste management backlog from the six local linked directly to category one because it is addressing the challenges the local municipalities face on daily basis. The initiative is ensuring that every citizen is having an equal access to waste management removal and ensures that everyone's rights "that everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their well being" are not infringed. all the poor people are accessing waste removal. the local municipalities are able to implement all the Integrated Development Plans in terms of waste management. Environmental education and awareness has been given to citizens ensures that everyone have access to information and are awareness on safe environment.

Question 2

The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
According to the section 24 of RSA Constitution and National Environmental Management Waste Act (59 of 2008) Local Municipalities (LM's) are mandated to collect waste, treat and dispose waste in a sustainable manner at an affordable price. Nkangala District Municipality (NDM) firstly developed its Integrated Waste Management Plan (IWMP) by engaging all the six local municipalities within the District and integrated all the waste issues and challenges of six LM's. NDM ensured that the waste issues around the District are reduced by budgeting per financial year to assist the local municipalities to address the waste challenges. The challenge for most municipalities is waste removal backlog due to old equipment, rapid urbanisation and the poor villages around the District that did not have accessible roads or no waste service at all. The initiative improved the lives of people around the District by supporting the LM's with waste equipment and ensuring that their living conditions improves on daily basis. This initiative also addressed three of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) that is Goal 3 that ensures a healthy lives and promote well being of all at all ages, Goal 11 that is making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and lastly Goal 13 that take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. The environmental awareness and education was also strengthen within the six LM's that includes waste recycling, re-use and reduction. The education programmes are run parallel with climate change awareness. The initiative reduced the waste backlog within the LM's.

Question 3

The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
The Constitution also stipulates that Local Government is tasked with ensuring the provision of basic services (waste, water sanitation etc) to communities in a sustainable manner and the promotion of a safe and healthy environment. For the past years the District have been experiencing community protest that includes waste collection, hence the initiative was implemented by the District. The initiative improved the lives of all the people within the District that includes children, women, elderly and people with disability by having access to waste removal that ensured that their Constitutional rights are not infringed. Environmental education on waste management improved the level of education to understand the importance of waste recycling within communities. The waste backlog was reduced in six LM's and thus improving service delivery.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
The initiative improved the lives of all the people within the District that includes children, women, elderly and people with disability by having access to waste removal that ensured that their Constitutional rights are not infringed. Environmental education on waste management improved the level of education to understand the importance of waste re-use, reclaim and recycling within communities. the communities are living in a clean environment and free from diseases

Question 4

The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
According to the Constitution section 156 schedule 5 Part B local municipalities are responsible for waste removal and refuse disposal. Municipal Structures Act, clearly states that District municipalities should support local municipalities where there is no capacity. Nkangala District Municipality ensured that waste management is included in Integrated development Plan (IDP) were the budget of the District is shared with the public to ensure their basic needs of public are met through their contributions on the budget. NDM initiated the project of assisting LM's with waste removal equipment. The budget for waste removal equipment is allocated according to local municipalities requisition.

Question 4b

b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
The initiative is original in a sense that District Municipality supported the local municipalities in terms of infrastructure and other related issues for local government. Nkangala District has been supporting the local municipalities with waste removing equipment and environmental education to improve the lives of people, hence other Districts want to adopt the initiative.

Question 4c

c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
Financial resources by budgeting and including waste management equipment in IDP. Victor Khanye Local municipality- 10 scow waste containers - 2015 - R340 602.83 Emalahleni Local municipality - 4 waste compactor trucks - 2014 - R7 436 682.00 Emakhazeni local municipality - 2 waste compactor trucks 12m3 - 2016 - R3 294 144.00 Steve Tshwete local municipality - 2 waste compactor trucks - 2017- R4 500 000.00 Thembisile Hani local municipality - 3 waste removal tractors - 2013- R876 000.00 Providing more than 20 environmental education and awareness for LM's and the public on waste management and other environmental issues for the past four years

Question 5

The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
The initiative has been adopted by other district municipalities such as Gert Sibande District Municipality within the Province of Mpumalanga were it was presented at the Provincial Waste Management Forum, it was requested by other District on how Nkangala District is to assist the local municipalities with waste removal equipment.

Question 6

The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
Nkangala District has been sustainably supporting the LM's in the past five years with waste removal equipment to ensure the municipalities are able to sustain themselves.The initiative is sustainable due to the fact that the waste equipment procured improved the lives of the communities within the District by keeping their environment clean and free from diseases. The service providers that procured the equipment were given a job opportunity and reduce unemployment within the region. The waste trucks that were procured created permanent employment for youth.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
The initiative is sustainable because the life span of waste equipment is more than ten years and permanent employment of youth within the municipalities. The waste equipment will enable the local municipalities to generate income for sustainable service delivery.

Question 7

The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
The initiative was evaluated by sending questionnaires to the supported municipalities to indicate the improvement of waste removal within the local municipality jurisdiction while the community benefit with the clean and safe environment. the households that were never serviced now has access to waste removal and the percentage of waste collection improved.
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
The municipalities improved on waste removal after receiving waste equipment:- Steve Tshwete Local Municipality: from 80% to 84% Emalahleni Local Municipality: from 79% to 84% Thembisile Hani local Municipality: from 39% to 78% Emakhazeni Local Municipality from 79% to 84% Dr J S Moroka Local Municipality from 2.7% to 21% Victor Khanye Local Municipality: from 21% to 81% see COGTA waste removal backlog
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
The number of households with access to waste collection and with no waste collection. A percentage was then determined from the households.

Question 8

The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
The stakeholders involved are communities during Mayoral outreach and during the Integrated Development Plan process for the District, the communities gave feedback on the changes observed by removing waste. The local municipalities are also stakeholders that were involved during the evaluation by determining the percentage of household that have access to waste removal as a results of Nkangala District intervention by providing waste removal equipment. Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) also played a role on ensuring waste management is prioritised at Provincial level during the Provincial Waste Management Forum. SALGA played a role by ensuring waste removal is implemented in LM's

Question 9

a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
Key lessons learned: A clean environment improves the health of the society. Important to involve public in projects and planning of service delivery. Improve by encouraging communities to recycle waste. Improve by Building buy back centers within communities.

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