development of a comprehensive system of input into the ssp regarding skills requirements for the...

Development of a Comprehensive System of

Input into the SSP regarding Skills Requirements for the

Water Sector

GERALDINE SCHOEMAN

AFROSEARCH/FPCD

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Inadequate numbers of skilled personnel Inadequate numbers of skilled personnel (also termed scarce skills), skills gaps (also termed scarce skills), skills gaps amongst existing employees (also termed amongst existing employees (also termed critical skills) and competition between critical skills) and competition between sectors and institutions for limited sectors and institutions for limited numbers of adequately skilled people numbers of adequately skilled people (also termed a ‘bun fight’) pose a (also termed a ‘bun fight’) pose a number of very real and specific threats number of very real and specific threats in the water sectorin the water sector

PROBLEM STATEMENT (2)

These threats include:These threats include:

1.1. The fact that people (especially children) are The fact that people (especially children) are dying daily from deficits in delivery. dying daily from deficits in delivery.

2.2. Failure to achieve the water and sanitation Failure to achieve the water and sanitation delivery targets.delivery targets.

3.3. Failure to (effectively and sustainably) manage Failure to (effectively and sustainably) manage water as a critically scarce resource.water as a critically scarce resource.

4.4. Failure of organs of state (in particular Failure of organs of state (in particular municipalities) to deliver on essential services municipalities) to deliver on essential services and constitutional obligations.and constitutional obligations.

5.5. Negative impacts on the country’s economy.Negative impacts on the country’s economy.

CLEARLY WE CANNOT CLEARLY WE CANNOT ENGAGE IN A ‘BUSINESS AS ENGAGE IN A ‘BUSINESS AS

USUAL’ APPROACH WITH USUAL’ APPROACH WITH REGARD TO THE SKILLS REGARD TO THE SKILLS

NEEDS WITHIN THE SECTORNEEDS WITHIN THE SECTOR

WATER SECTOR FOCUSWATER SECTOR FOCUS

Water Services Delivery Institutions: water Water Services Delivery Institutions: water services authorities, water services providers, services authorities, water services providers, water services intermediaries and 2ndary water services intermediaries and 2ndary services by water boards; andservices by water boards; and

Water Resources Management Institutions: Water Resources Management Institutions: CMAs and associated structures, WUAs, CMAs and associated structures, WUAs, water boards (iro primary focus), ICBOs, water boards (iro primary focus), ICBOs, etc.etc.

National & provincial government National & provincial government departments;departments;

NGOs/ CSOs/ communitiesNGOs/ CSOs/ communities

THE WORKPLACE AND THE WORKPLACE AND SECTOR SKILLS PLANNING SECTOR SKILLS PLANNING

PROCESSES ARE PROCESSES ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO FUNDAMENTAL TO

ENSURING ADEQUATE ENSURING ADEQUATE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE SECTORWITHIN THE SECTOR

CURRENT SSP CURRENT SSP DEVELOPMENT PROCESSDEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Workplace Skills PlansWorkplace Skills Plans SSP Committee InputSSP Committee Input Stakeholder Input (ad hoc)Stakeholder Input (ad hoc) ResearchResearch

THE NECESSARY THE NECESSARY ACTIONS EXIST BUT ACTIONS EXIST BUT

THESE ARE INSUFFICIENT THESE ARE INSUFFICIENT TO ENSURE AN TO ENSURE AN

ADEQUATE SKILLS ADEQUATE SKILLS PLANNING PROCESS - PLANNING PROCESS - ESSENTIAL MISSING ESSENTIAL MISSING

LINKS IN THE PROCESSLINKS IN THE PROCESS

WHAT DO WE HAVEWHAT DO WE HAVE

Generic WSA and WSP OrganogramsGeneric WSA and WSP Organograms Have an understanding of the skills Have an understanding of the skills

requirements attached to each position within requirements attached to each position within the organogram (from manager to meter the organogram (from manager to meter reader)reader)

Have an understanding of the skills gaps Have an understanding of the skills gaps (critical skills)(critical skills)

Have an understanding of the areas of scarce Have an understanding of the areas of scarce skillsskills

Foundational skills:

Task-specific skills for WSA functions:

Generic skills:

Task-specific skills for addressing cross-cutting priorities:

People management / people skills

Conflict Management

Reporting / report writing

Communication and PR

Information and Computer technology skills

Knowledge of own role /

organisation’s role

Problem solving

Strategic and business

management/ planning

Knowledge of governmental institutional

arrangements

Knowledge of local

government

Bylaws for water services

and credit control

Free basic sanitation

policy

Water Services Provider contractual

arrangementsReporting and accountability

Knowledge of water-related

legislation

Compilation of Water Services

Development Plans (WSDP)

Linking WSDPs, IDPs

and WR planning

Stakeholder participation

Bathoe Pele Principles

Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective

LED Co-operative Governance

Holistic understanding of WSA and WSP

functions

Target group: Leadership and governance

Councillors, Mayor, Executive mayor, Board members, Chairperson

Facilitating public /

community participation

Listening skills

Teamwork Acceptance of diversity

Time Management

Formal writing skills

Financial skills


Task-specific skills for WSP functions:


Generic skills:

Listening skills

Acceptance of diversity

Formal writing skills

People management / people skills

Project management

Financial skills

Conflict Management

Reporting / report writing




Diversity management

Change Management

Legal and contractual knowledge

Strategic and business

management / planning

Monitoring and

evaluation


arrangements

Knowledge of local

government

Bylaws for water services

and credit control

Free basic sanitation

policy

Infrastructure development

Water Services Provider

contractual arrangements

Performance management and regulation

Risk and disaster

management

Reporting and accountability


legislation

Compilation of Water Services Development Plans (WSDP)

Development of a system for

WSDP reporting and water services

auditing

Linking WSDPs, IDPs

and WR planning

Water Conservation and Demand Management

Financial management


Setting conditions

for provision of water services

Contract management




Mainstreaming a Gender

Perspective

LED

Co-operative Governance

Target group: Management & Senior Officials

CEO, Directors, City/ Munic / District Manager, Department / Division Heads, Project Managers, Plant Managers

Holistic understanding of WSA and WSP functions

Task-specific skills for WSA functions: Task-specific skills for addressing cross-cutting priorities:

Generic skills:

Project management

General technical

skills

Health and safety skills

Operation and

maintenance of equipment

Monitoring and

evaluation

General research

skills

Maintenance management

Infrastructure development

Risk and disaster

management


legislation



auditing

Linking WSDPs, IDPs and

WR planning

Water Conservation and Demand Management




Perspective

LED

Co-operative Governance


functions

Target group: Technical Staff

Geologists, Hydrologists, Chemists, Engineers, Laboratory Technicians, Plant Supervisors



Generic skills:


Information and Computer

technology skills



Office administration


LED

Target group: Financial Staff

Accountants, Cashiers, Payroll clerks, Finance clerks, Bookkeepers


functions



legislation



auditing

Financial skills


Generic skills:


Task-specific skills for WSA functions: Task-specific skills for WSP functions:

Listening skills

Teamwork Acceptance of diversity

People management/people skills

Conflict Management

HR Management


Information and Computer technology

skills



Diversity management

Change Management

Legal and contractual knowledge

Monitoring and

evaluation

Facilitating public /

community participation


arrangements

Capacity building and educational

skills

Office administration

Performance management and regulation






Perspective

Target group: HR and Admin

HR Director, HR Managers, HR Officers, Administrative Secretaries


functions

WHAT DON’T WE HAVEWHAT DON’T WE HAVE

Generic WRM Institution Organograms and Generic WRM Institution Organograms and associated skills requirements (newly associated skills requirements (newly evolving set of skills within an evolving evolving set of skills within an evolving resource management and institutional resource management and institutional paradigm)paradigm)

Comprehensive understanding of the skills Comprehensive understanding of the skills requirements per discreet occupational requirements per discreet occupational category - not necessarily the suite of skills category - not necessarily the suite of skills associated with various functions (associated with various functions (e.g. e.g.

integrated quantity and quality managementintegrated quantity and quality management).).

WHAT DON’T WE HAVE (2)WHAT DON’T WE HAVE (2) A significant number of the key institutionsA significant number of the key institutions Where institutions exist (e.g. some of the Where institutions exist (e.g. some of the

CMAs) there is no standard CMA ‘form’ and CMAs) there is no standard CMA ‘form’ and therefore no standard CMA organogram as therefore no standard CMA organogram as yet (form follows function)yet (form follows function)

There are no WRMI WSPs to draw onThere are no WRMI WSPs to draw on Existing WSI Workplace Skills Plans do not Existing WSI Workplace Skills Plans do not

address the required sets of skills for deliveryaddress the required sets of skills for delivery There is no apparent feedback loop between There is no apparent feedback loop between

the SSP and the WSPthe SSP and the WSP

INSTITUTIONAL FOCUS: LGSETA and ESETA

Currently Sector Education and Training Currently Sector Education and Training Support to the Water Sector is a ‘split’ Support to the Water Sector is a ‘split’ responsibility between the (LGSETA) and the responsibility between the (LGSETA) and the (ESETA)(ESETA)

The Water Chamber has moved from the The Water Chamber has moved from the LGSETA to the ESETALGSETA to the ESETA

A ‘routine’ MoU has been signed by the two A ‘routine’ MoU has been signed by the two SETAs to ‘ensure’ effective and adequate SETAs to ‘ensure’ effective and adequate dovetailing of activities between the two dovetailing of activities between the two SETAsSETAs

LGSETA INSTITUTIONAL AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Local Government Sector Education & The Local Government Sector Education & Training Authority (LGSETA) focuses on all Training Authority (LGSETA) focuses on all Institutions providing Services at Municipal Level:Institutions providing Services at Municipal Level:Water Service AuthoritiesWater Service AuthoritiesWater Services ProvidersWater Services ProvidersWater Service IntermediariesWater Service Intermediaries

ESETA INSTITUTIONAL AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

The ESETA focuses on all The ESETA focuses on all Water Management Institutions:Water Management Institutions: Catchment Management AgenciesCatchment Management Agencies Catchment Management CommitteesCatchment Management Committees Water User AssociationsWater User Associations International Water Management Bodies, and International Water Management Bodies, and Water Boards (who have a primary resource Water Boards (who have a primary resource

directed as well as a secondary services directed directed as well as a secondary services directed focus)focus)

IMPLICATIONS OF SPLIT RESPONSIBILITY

The split responsibility is believed to be The split responsibility is believed to be purelypurely in terms of in terms of the implementation of training. This means that the the implementation of training. This means that the planning for and development of the skills within the planning for and development of the skills within the Water Sector remains the primary responsibility of the Water Sector remains the primary responsibility of the ESETA.ESETA.

The ESETA can therefore not afford to be lulled into a The ESETA can therefore not afford to be lulled into a pattern of thinking that Water Services Skills pattern of thinking that Water Services Skills Requirements is “not its responsibility”. The contrary is Requirements is “not its responsibility”. The contrary is true – it needs to be the serious driver within this process.true – it needs to be the serious driver within this process.

WHAT IS LESS WELL WHAT IS LESS WELL UNDERSTOOD IS THAT UNDERSTOOD IS THAT

THESE PLANNING THESE PLANNING PROCESSES PLAY A KEY PROCESSES PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MODERATING ROLE IN MODERATING

‘DEMAND’ FOR TRAINING ‘DEMAND’ FOR TRAINING WITHIN THE SECTORWITHIN THE SECTOR

JOHARI’S SKILLS WINDOW

Significant external evidence of skills gaps

Limited external evidence of skills gaps

Self-reports of skills gaps

Consistent skills gaps (Perceived by self and by others)

Hidden skills gaps (perceived by self, but not by others)

Few self-reports of gaps

Possible Possible unknown skills unknown skills gaps gaps

(not perceived by self or (not perceived by self or by others)by others)

Possible “blind spots” (skills gaps perceived by others, but not by self)

Localised

skills gaps (only in some

organisations / departments / job categories)

OVERARCHING NEEDS IRO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT?

Targeting Appropriate InstitutionsTargeting Appropriate Institutions

Ensuring a comprehensive understanding of Ensuring a comprehensive understanding of institutions (what they should do as well as what institutions (what they should do as well as what constraints they face)constraints they face)

Understanding the supportive environmentUnderstanding the supportive environment

Rigorous Needs/Skills Gap AnalysisRigorous Needs/Skills Gap Analysis

Providing Effective Skills Development to ensure Providing Effective Skills Development to ensure competencycompetency

Assess the regulatory environment on a regular basis

Assess the deficits in service delivery and associated Skills Needs

Ensure an accurate Workplace Skills Planning Process (including the necessary templates)

Ensure empowered Workplace Skills Development Facilitators

Ensure effective collaboration amongst ALL sector role-players

Sector Skills Plan

Five-pronged strategy

Powerful Solutions Powerful Solutions Start with the Start with the

Right QuestionsRight Questions

SSPAS DRIVER

FORWATER SECTORSKILLS

DEVELOPMENT

THANK YOU

development of a comprehensive system of input into the ssp regarding skills requirements for the...

Documents

generic skills

skills gaps critical

skills requirements

foundational skills

skills needs

water sector slide

water services authorities

water services intermediaries