Establishment of Cities Support Programme Phase II (2019 – 2024)

The Cities Support Programme (CSP) is located within the inter-governmental relations (IGR) division of the National Treasury (NT). Acting as a change agent and a vehicle for collaboration and integration, the CSP aims to improve the capacity of cities and create an enabling intergovernmental fiscal system and policy environment to support city-led transformation. The CSP supports metros directly and works across divisions in NT, with other national departments and broader stakeholders to enhance the enabling policy environment fiscal frameworks to make it easier for cities to work more efficiently.

Key Deliverables:

(1)        Provided three (3) metros with the following support:

(1.1)  Managed the initiation, landing of approved CSIP projects and facilitate unblocking of challenges;

(1.2)  Developed the of a CSIP and the annual updating of the Plan and Reporting to the CSP and the city on Progress with implementing the approved CSIP;

(1.3)  Manage the planning and performance of the City Advisory Services and the City Advisor Team;

(1.4)  Provide strategic advice and information on time to city manager and the NT leadership on the city. Lead support initiatives to build leadership and transversal management capabilities of the EMT

(2)        Insight/intelligence into city to target support towards transformation on city-specific issues;

(3)        Relationship management to refine and land support;

(4)        Intergovernmental coordination; and

(5)        CSIP & CSP project delivery, oversight, and reporting.

Impact:

Lungile Madlala was appointed as the City Advisor responsible for landing the work of the CSP at the City of Johannesburg, City of Cape Town, and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. As the City Advisor, she acted as the entry point for all support from the CSP; and as facilitator and monitor of the implementation of all support services under programme. Together with National Treasury (and cross-department teams), worked with each metro doing its core business of budget analyses and financial reforms and financial performance as well as on sector-focussed performance example water and electricity.

 As City Advisors, she formed part of the National Treasury Team and brought additional metro-focussed insight and intelligence to the work of the National Treasury. Each metro has an approved City Support Implementation Plan (CSIP) that sets out the agreed support areas for the city.

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