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National Activities: South Africa

South Africa

Progress Report on South Africa's Program on the Testing of Indicators of Sustainable Development
June 1997

South Africa, through its Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, agreed towards the end of 1996 to participate in the testing of the CSD indicators of Sustainable Development. The Sub-committee on Sustainable Development of the Committee for Environmental Coordination, acts as the national coordinating mechanism. This committee is directly involved in matters concerning sustainable development. The committee consists of government and provincial level representatives who are actively involved in implementing sustainable development programmes at the different tiers of government. The Directorate Sustainable Development in the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism serve as the national focal point for international communication and coordination of the testing process.

At its last meeting held on 19 February 1997, the Subcommittee for Sustainable Development agreed that four task groups will be formed to test the set of sustainability indicators. These are the task group on

• social indicators
• economic indicators
• environmental indicators
• institutional indicators

Government Departments, NGOs, the scientific community, as well as agencies charged with data collection, compilation and analysis have been approached to participate in the testing process and to nominate representatives on the task groups.

To assist in the testing of indicators, a questionnaire, data sheet as well as an information sheet with details on how to complete the questionnaire and data sheet were developed in accordance with the guidelines provided by the CSD for testing. The questionnaire and data sheet are used to capture relevant information required during this phase of testing on each of the indicators. Documentation provided to participants also included a copy of the Indicators of Sustainable Development Framework and Methodologies, as well as background information on indicators. Several information sessions were held during which the testing process was further explained to participants. The next phase of the testing procedure includes the evaluation of returned questionnaires and data sheets by the project team of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. This will start towards the end of June 1997. All the inputs and comments received will be combined in a single report by August. At that stage a workshop to discuss the findings with participants in the testing process will be investigated.

Twinning arrangements

South Africa was approached by Finland during the latter part of 1996 to form a twinning arrangement in the testing of sustainability indicators. This was agreed upon, and a delegation from Finland visited South Africa during February 1997. Approaches to testing and a time frame for testing and reporting were among the issues discussed. During this visit it was decided that each country will test the indicators seperately but at the same time exchange information and ideas where possible. After the completion of the testing, the two countries will compare results and lessons learnt during the testing. To facilitate this, a workshop/seminar is scheduled in Finland from 8-12 September 1997 to discuss the experiences from the two countries and to exchange further information. A small delegation from South Africa will visit Finland. A copy of the final South African report will be forwarded beforehand to Finland for their comments. This report will also be discussed during the visit to Finland in September 1997 and the ensuing workshops planned during the visit. At this stage it is envisaged that South Africa and Finland will submit a joint final 1997 report on testing to the CSD in November 1997.

TASK GROUPS

Additional Reports