Current Projects
CMRA is currently working on a range of projects in the local government arena in southern Africa. Our projects are donor funded as well as paid services. CMRA focuses on key themes for local government, such as Local Economic Development, Housing, Public Participation, and HIV and AIDS. CMRA develops projects based on the goals and needs of national and local government. Below are some examples of current projects implemented by CMRA.
ARIAL
The aim of this assignment is to provide SWALGA (Swaziland Local Government Association), and in particular SWALGA Executive Committee and newly appointed director and project assistant, with international LGA experience and knowledge to politically and technically exchange ideas and make specific recommendations that will help the SWALGA to become an independent, representative, legitimate and financial sustainable Local Government Association.
Benchmarking LED Maturity in South African Municipalities
The aim of this project is to establish the status quo of LED maturity in municipalities. The project is part of the LOGO South Programme. The initiative is implemented in partnership with CMRA, SALGA and VNG-International.
Benchmarking HIV and AIDS
CMRA in partnership with SALGA has implemented two HIV and AIDS benchmark cycles since 2008, with 23 municipalities in total. Through benchmarking municipal responses to HIV and AIDS, municipalities can learn from each other by identifying good practices and areas for improvement. The focus of the project is the municipal response to HIV and AIDS, which includes the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS.
Benchmarking Public Participation
The Public Participation Benchmark gives insight into the performance of municipalities in public participation, and identifies good practices. The project is implemented in partnership with SALGA. By sharing successes and challenges municipalities learn from each other’s experiences. The Benchmark gives tailor made solutions to the challenges of the participating municipalities based on good practices of other municipalities.
LOGO South Housing Benchmark
The LOGO South Housing Benchmark forms part of the LOGO South Country Programme South Africa and is implemented by VNG International in cooperation with SALGA. The project aims to strengthen local government in the field of rental housing through capacity building in 10 municipalities in South Africa. The focus is on the cooperation between municipalities and Social Housing Institutions (SHI) with the goal of identifying challenges and good practices. The participating municipalities are also implementing LOGO South Housing activities with Dutch partner municipalities.
VROM Council Support
The overall objective of the Council Support project is to improve the municipal response to the housing needs of the population, and specifically the poor. The more specific objectives are: Councillors are better capacitated to make informed decisions on housing related matters through Council training/information sessions. New ideas for down streaming social housing are explored through discussions in the municipal Councils and Round Table meeting.
VROM Social Housing Benchmark
The Social Housing Benchmark project is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Housing (VROM) and includes 13 South African municipalities with Restructuring Zones that have been selected by the National Department of Human Settlements. The Social Housing Benchmark is implemented by CMRA in cooperation with SALGA. The overall goal of the project is to improve housing delivery for the poor. Focus areas of the project include the relationship between municipalities and Social Housing Institutions (SHI) as well as the provision of rental units to low income and vulnerable groups (down-streaming).
Municipal Barometer