Event: SAPI Masterclass on Spatial Development Frameworks

How to make Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks effective

The South African Planning Institute is running a two-day Master Class on Spatial Development Frameworks. This Master Class is designed specifically for local government practitioners who are grappling with the challenges of developing and implementing Spatial Development Frameworks in line with government’s developmental priorities.

As planners we are faced with a number of challenges in developing, adopting and supporting the implementation of Spatial Development Frameworks. We know how important they are for the future well-being of our economies, societies and environments – yet face a host of frustrations in seeing them achieve their potential. This Master Class thus aims to build on good practice and shared learnings to address the central question of, “How to make Municipal Spatial Development Frameworks effective?”.

The course is structured to maximise the opportunity to engage and discuss. Case studies and “thought pieces” are used to set the basis for interaction around a set of core challenges and questions.

The two-day workshop is part of SAPI’s national initiative (http://www.sapi.org.za/). SAPI has developed the course structure and will facilitate the course. In the Western Cape we have partnered with SALGA (http://led.co.za/) who are providing logistical support and the Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. SALGA also has a planned programme of activity aimed at spatial planners and planning and SAPI will support SALGA on this initiative going forward.
  

Course Overview
The course is structured around key inputs/case studies that each address a central challenge:
1) The challenge of planning and land-use management in an African “developmental” context. It will explore the legislative and other frameworks within which we operate and ask whether these support the desires of a developmental state. This will be supplemented by an update on the progress of the NPC on planning.
2) Why do we do SDFs? What is their desired role and purpose? Based on case study reviews as an input, this will explore where, why and how they are working or not.
3) What comprises a good Municipal SDF? A detailed case study of an SDF will be used to explore what a good municipal SDF should cover.
4) Following from the above, the next session (also based on a detailed case study) will explore how an SDF can be developed and framed so as to guide implementation – how it can talk to different sectors and spheres of government and to key strategic documents in the Municipality – such as the IDP.
5) Results-based management (RBM) is an increasingly used tool in government. We will explore the concepts and terminology in RBM and consider if this is a useful approach to developing results-based spatial development frameworks.
6) Economic development and job creation is currently a core focus of government. How can SDFs support economic development in the short-term and use this to enable a municipality to become economically sustainable in the long-term?
7) Wrap-up and closure – evaluation and topics for future learning networks.
  

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this Master Class, participants should have:

• A conceptual basis to explain and integrate the challenges involved in making Spatial Development Frameworks a developmental tool.
• A shared understanding of the key elements of a good Municipal Spatial Development Framework.
• A deepened understanding of how to structure a Municipal SDF so as to enable its implementation through sectoral strategies and the IDP (amongst others).
• Critical insights and better practice examples of how to improve Spatial Development Frameworks.
• Improved access to a range of learning networks, contacts and potential support around spatial development planning.
 

Facilitator
Matt Cullinan will facilitate the two-day course. Matt has over 20 years of experience in planning and development. From his early involvement in the first post-democracy MSDF for Cape Town, he has continued to explore the areas and forces that shape and influence the impact of plans and planning. Most recently, his work with the Technical Assistance Unit (TAU) at National Treasury has included setting up communities of practice and learning networks. He has also done training in Gestalt Organisational Systems Development - which builds on creating awareness as a basis for action and implementation. Matt has previous experience in putting together training programmes. He is a firm believer in experiential learning as a means of improving professional practice. His articles have been published in compilations and teaching guides and he regularly contributes papers to conferences.

For more details and the proposed agenda for the course, download the course document attached.