1. 1 A National Coordinated Response to the Water Sector Skills Crisis Water Sector Leadership Group Meeting 18-19 November 2009 Champion: Skills Task Team Portia Makhanya

2. 2 Purpose and Focus of Skills Task Team To strategically coordinate, lead and align skills development for the water sector To influence national processes and policies that affect skills development in the water sector Ensure accountability on sector-wide initiatives To drive a strategic approach to dealing with skills shortages in the water sector

3. Progress Update on Skills Task Team Meeting held in August to firmly establish the task team – terms of reference drafted A 2-day workshop held in October to explore roles of task team and strategic objectives for skills development Completed the first level of research to guide direction of the task team

4. 4 4 National Functions to ensure Coordinated Response to Meet the Sector Skills Development Challenge Skills Task Team Role PLANNING Strategic Objectives National Target setting Strategy Alignment KPIs QUALITY ASSURANCE Tracking progress Strategic level reporting Performance Monitoring Evaluation RESOURCES Identifying funding sources Facilitating access to finance ADVOCACY Political & leadership buy-in Inter-sector engagement Mainstreaming Water into Education & Training Water Literacy COORDINATION Communication Partnerships Role Clarity STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP & ACCOUNTABILITY INTELLIGENCE Info & data Matching demand & supply Critical Analysis Research

5. 5 Strategic Objectives Agreed for Skills Development Agenda 1.To increase the number of engineers and scientists employed in the water sector 2.To increase the number of Artisans/Technicians employed in the water sector. 3.To improve Strategic Management and Leadership Skills in the water sector. Developmental Local Government skills Financial skills Technical Management 4.To increase the number of Socio-Economic and Environmental Practitioners (like resource economists)

6. 6 The Framework and Approach Basic & Higher Education GET / FET / HET Occupational & Workplace Development Water Advocacy & Literacy Skilling the Water Sector Meeting Sector & DWA Strategic Thrusts & W4GD Underpinning the Economic, Social & Environmental Objectives of Govt

7. 7 Action Plan for Skills Task Team 1.Enhancing the composition of the Skills Task Team - Invite the following Organisations:  COSATU & Other Unions relevant to the Water Sector  Department of Basic Education & Higher Education  Department of Science and Technology  Ensure effective participation of ESETA and SALGA 2.DWA Role and Responsibility as Sector Leader: agreement and buy-in at DWA Top Management is Critical 3.Development of a Coordinated Water Sector Skills Development Framework and Implementation Plan

8. Thank You 8

9. 9 Major Outcomes of STT Workshop Critical Need for A Sector Skills Intelligence Capacity to be Developed – DWA to Lead on establishing this Coordination and alignment through the WSLG Skills Task Team important – sector to support drive in DWA to elevate skills through the STT Champion Water resources to be elevated in sector as a whole and this skills task team to ensure this Departments of Education most strategic partner for skills but currently no strategic and systematic engagement with them – Champion to focus on this Information of performance across education and training bands & skills is not easily accessible – hence skills intelligence capacity critical Link current information systems and initiatives directly to the skills intelligence system