1. Community Work Programme: Making it work for young children Early Childhood Development Conference, DSD 29 th March 2012 Shirin Motala, Economic Performance & Development; Human Sciences Research Council Shirin Motala, Economic Performance & Development; Human Sciences Research Council

2. Social science that makes a difference Background In 2005, India passed a law guaranteeing every rural households with unemployed adults willing to do unskilled work up to 100 days of work per annum, at minimum wage rates. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) - world first in terms of “right to work” Over 55 million households now participate in the programme, with significant impacts on poverty in rural India. It had 3 objectives – provide wage employment; strengthen rural governance (transparency and accountability); strengthening sustainable livelihoods – asset creation.

3. Social science that makes a difference Social Protection Mechanisms South Africa has several social protection mechanism including the Social Assistance Programme (Grants), Expanded Public Works Programme, free health care for pregnant women and children, National school feeding programme etc.

5. Current Policy Context SA has already implemented a public employment scheme through EPWP EPWP Phase 1 (2004-2009) reached 1 million work opportunities Phase 2 (now till 2014 – 4.5 million work opportunities – 680 000 FTE Targets low in relation to problem Challenges to scaling up EPWP (sustainable employment, exit strategies? Targeting Etc.)

6. Community Work Programme, SA Initially started as a pilot, outside government with donor funding, Steering Committee from Cabinet & implemented by TIPS Currently operated via COGTA NOT an employment guarantee like India It offers 2 days employment per week (8 days pm) at R60 pd As at 2011 – over 100 000 participants in 70 sites Target is to establish one CWP in each municipality by 2014.

7. Social science that makes a difference The SA Model A site is between 2-10 wards in a municipality 1000 people employed Work to be done decided by community through participatory processes Must be useful work and benefit the community, not individuals Work includes home-based care, food gardens, teacher assistance, ECD assistance, environmental services and the creation and maintenance of community assets such as parks, graveyards, schools, clinics, churches, secondary and village roads, and water pipelines Sites have supervisors and clerks (1;25 ratio)

8. Purpose of the Study To explore potential of the Community Work Programme (CWP) enhancing outcomes for young children

9. Research Focus Not an evaluation of CWP Focus on two themes of CWP work only-:  Food Security Interventions  Early Childhood Development Within these themes explored -:  Understanding of CWP stakeholders of these themes  Nature of implementation by CWP  Nature and extent of collaboration between CWP and other stakeholders  Successes, Challenges & Innovations

10. Methods Ethics Protocol: reflection of respect – e.g. informed consent (right to choose if you want to participate), manner in which research is conducted and information collected must not harm a person Data collection: Interviews, focus groups, review of documents and participation in CWP workshops; Sample Selection: 16 sites out of 77 sites (56 we identified) – purposive. Criteria included rural, urban, geographical, type of work undertaken Site based and telephonic interviews

11. Research Sites KZN: 3 – Mthwalume and Duzi (informal discussion Dlangubo) E. C: 3 – Pefferville, Bulungula (part of Elliotdale), Senqu (Matatiele) F.S.: 2 – Welkom and Harrismith G.P.: 2 – Kagiso (Merafong) LP: 1 – Lephephane M.P. 1 – Bohlabela N.C.: 1 - Riemvasmaak N.W.: 1 - Meriting W.C.: 2 – Grabouw and Mannenberg

12. Who was interviewed? CWP Site Managers; CWP ECD; Food Garden and Social Coordinators; CWP Reference Committee members ECD centre Principals and Board members; Implementing Agents, ECD stakeholders – Training agencies, advocacy bodies etc. Local Government representatives Provincial government stakeholders in KZN and WC  DoSD; DoH; DoE; DoPW; DoCoGTA

13. Focus of our ECD investigation What is the understanding of ECD? What is the nature of ECD interventions by CWP? With who is CWP collaborating and coordinating work on ECD? Achievements and Innovations Challenges Issues for consideration /opportunities Recommendations

14. Why focus on ECD work “finished cleaning work and looked to see what else needs doing?” Overcrowded creches Physical security and care for children of CWP workers – “children in the sun, protection from snakes” ; “save them from drowning” Affordability of ECD access - too expensive “Environment in the ECD was not good” No ECD available for children Lack of play space – children living in flats Staff – child ratio was poor Government request – DBE in Bohlabela

15. Nature and Extent of ECD interventions Providing food to ECD centres Developing and maintaining food gardens for ECD centres Landscaping – gardens, play grounds Repairs and maintenance to buildings Construction of toilets Construction of playground equipment Purchase of equipment for ECD Providing Labour to ECD centres and Grade R- Additional staff – as cooks, administration work, cleaners, ECD assistants, child carers, nappy changing etc.

16. Nature of ecd cont…. Criteria for selection of ECD workers – in some sites Matric requirement; “ passion for working with children”; experience, parent involvement in selection; no requirements at all High level of participation by women – this can be good for children; mostly older women Provide labour 2 days per week Training and Supervision provided in some sites Opportunity for networking and collaboration between ECD’s Scale of ECD placement – ranges from 2 to over 100 people Mtwalume 155; Welkom 50 etc.

17. Institutional Collaboration & Co-ordination There is mixed evidence of collaboration: Many participants and stakeholders recognize the need for collaboration It is not always working well Collaboration is extraordinarily difficult to do effectively Linkages to Business, NGOs etc. Plans for Provincial Steering Committees - poor historical experience

18. Institutional linkages Awareness of the CWP Some people/officials who should be aware of the CWP are not; E.g. KZN’s proposed ‘Official Launch’ could be a useful strategy The CWP will not achieve its objectives if it is not a well know program both in government and communities Sustainability of CWP There is uncertainty among some about how long the CWP will be a government program; This can adversely affect commitment by government officials Recent CoGTA M&G advert may assist with this perception

19. Achievements & Innovations Beneficiary identification and targeting – Mthwalume needs assessment of creches Negotiating ECD access – free service or discounted Supplementing salaries of ECD Practitioners.  Bohlabela: The ECD workers work full time (5 days) and are paid an additional R 1000 for the month by the ECD.  Bulungula: The existing staff at the ECD salaries have been supplemented. Budget Flexibility: creative use of wage and non wage budget for salaries, training, equipment.

20. Achievements Cont. Multiple interventions and support to ECD centres: infrastructure repairs, training, food, landscaped gardens and play areas, staff etc. Focus on parent education programmes. Promoting social solidarity: e.g. Welkom registered creches assist unregistered creches ?

21. Challenges CWP ECD interventions not widespread ECD employment is precarious, low paid, irregular incomes etc. How does CWP contribute to addressing this? CWP placements – threat to existing staff – potential for displacement? Stipend is more then salary of ECD staff Compliance with Children’s Act requirements – anyone who works with children needs to be checked against Child Protection Register & ECD centre registration Quality of care – how CWP ensures and monitors? Enabling access to training and support for ECD placements Support to community based private run ECDs? ECD worker selection and motivation?

22. Issues for consideration /opportunities to explore Why is ECD taken off in some CWP sites and not others? The CWP needs a more structured approach to collaboration with external stakeholders with active endorsement from top officials Operational links with the CDWP, War on Poverty needs clarity Can CWP contribute to enabling compliance with Children’s Act requirements? W.C example Given CWP limits – what contribution can it make to advancing govt ECD Policy Commitments – home and community based ECD – Children’s Act, NIP etc.

23. Recommendations  Define appropriate roles and contribution of CWP to ECD; identify quality norms and standards thereof.  CWP is an EPWP intervention – need to explore access to learnerships and skills development for cooks, gardeners, administrators, ECD practitioners, ECD assistants  Criteria for CWP ECD recruitment needs careful consideration  Explore ways for motivating greater focus on support to ECD through CWP e.g. food gardens, infrastructure support etc.  Develop and implement monitoring systems to measure quality of service and to measure impact

24. Focus on Food & Nutrition Security National and International Priorities Children and Nutrition Security – Deficit Impacts Study Findings

25. Food and nutrition security: International & national government priorities 2009, peak of global economic crisis - undernourished people surpassed 1 billion MDG 1 – target to reduce proportion of those in hunger by 2015 SA Government objective to halve unemployment and poverty by 2014 Food and nutrition security for all is foundational goal. Fundamental building block for human participation Nutrition is key foundation that influence effectiveness of other interventions

26. Chronic Malnutrition and Children Micronutrient malnutrition – hidden hunger SA is one of the top 20 countries with the highest burden of under-nutrition. At national level, 33.3% of preschool children are vitamin A deficient, 21.4% are anaemic and 5.0% suffer from iron deficiency anaemia. In 2000 an estimated 3 000 or more perinatal deaths in South Africa were attributed to iron deficiency anaemia (Steyn et al., 2006a). SA reversed MDG gains for children in respect of infant and under 5 mortality.

27. Nutritional Deficit Impacts 1000 day window of opportunity from pregnancy to 23 months – malnutrition during this period irreversible (LANCET Study) Productivity losses, poor cognitive development, and increased health care costs in malnourished populations lead to significant economic losses. For every 1 percent increase in height, adults will experience a 4 percent increase in total agricultural wages. Eliminating anemia has been shown to increase adult productivity by 5 to 17 percent

28. Factors contributing to good nutritional outcomes Access to essential nutrients in appropriate amounts Equitable access to nutritious food Knowledge of nutrition Adequate health and access to health care services Regular developmental screening for children

29. Six ways agricultural projects can maximize nutritional impact on vulnerable groups Integrate nutrition counseling - including through agricultural extension, particularly when women are counseled. Promote own food production. Women are usually responsible for home gardens, have greater control over household food consumption decisions than their husbands. Introduce micronutrient-rich crop varieties. Ensure that vulnerable household members consume the foods produced. Cultural and other factors need to be considered. Support agricultural tasks performed by women. Nutritional benefits increase when women can strike a balance between the time they give to agricultural tasks and the time they give to child and family care. Improve health to ensure utilization of nutrients. Improve access to safe water, promote hygiene & sanitation, improving health services and access to them, and promoting timely care-seeking for childhood illness (deworming etc.)

30. Meaning attached to food security Limited understanding of food and nutrition security ….. understood as  access to food  quantity of food  address hunger – ensure at least 2 meals per day

31. CWP Food Security Interventions Extensive roll out of food gardens at CWP sites…  Home gardens E.g. Sterkspruit in EC – 5000 home gardens developed and maintained.  Food Solidarity - food gardens in schools, creches, hospitals, orphanage. E.g. KKH – 54 schools and 30 creches food gardens and 1 hospital garden established.  Communal gardens established supply vulnerable hh.  Cooperative Gardens – emerging as income generators

32. Targeted Beneficiaries Targeted beneficiaries are elderly, sick, disabled, children and other “vulnerable” members of community Soup kitchens established to provide food for vulnerable people. E.g. Welkom site was providing cooked foor for 57 bedridden and chronically ill people – now only 9 require feeding – rest have recovered with food, care and medication. Vulnerable children fed at school and also given products to take home

34. CWP Impact South Africans are producing food! Scale of household food production – historical neglect of this globally and in SA – important coping strategy. Approximately 2.5 million households (4 million people) produce extra food for own consumption – primarily in the former homelands Share of black households per district municipality who are involved in agriculture (LFS 2007)

35. Successes ….. Food bank established for low cost purchase of beans, maize etc – Welkom site. Profit from surplus sold and funds utilized for supplementary food purchases Agriculture extension services provided Food Solidarity initiatives.

36. Challenges for CWP Targeting: Unclear how targeting is determined. Unclear of criteria for assessing vulnerability for food access; Type of food production: insufficient evidence of how dietary diversity is promoted. No evidence of animal production for dairy and protein needs; Typical CWP workers in food security: No data available. Anecdotal evidence suggests that majority are women and mainly older women – need to address gender imbalance in labour activities around food production.

37. Recommendations Incorporate household food security and/or nutrition objectives in project design. This will ensure that food security and nutrition concerns are addressed. Be intentional about measuring impacts on food security and nutrition. It promotes better targeting of the most vulnerable and helps improve effectiveness of implementation

38. Conclusion Well designed and effectively targeted Social Protection mechanisms can and do make a difference in the lives of poor and vulnerable people. Reach of CWP is growing – targeted to 250 000 participants by 2013 and expected to reach 1 million participants in 5 years. Substantial leverage of funding for salaries, injection of income into communities, stable income sources and employment opportunities for women and skills development. HOW does ECD leverage this for the wellbeing of children?