South Africa

Canada's Commitment
Results
Country Profile

Canada's Commitment

Canada has provided development assistance to South Africa since 1979. Prior to democratic national elections in April 1994, this assistance, which focused on community-oriented and human-resource activities, was channelled through multilateral agencies and Canadian and South African non-governmental organizations. Canada established bilateral or country-to-country assistance with South Africa following the elections.

CIDA's South Africa Country Development Programming Framework reflects a consensus between CIDA and the South Africa National Treasury on the rationale and opportunities for CIDA to support capacity building that strengthens service delivery to South Africa's most disadvantaged citizens. Partnerships with civil society, non-governmental organizations, academia, and the private sector are also increasing the capacity of local institutions and organizations to engage in constructive discussion and advocacy with the government.

Strengthening service delivery will be delivered in four key sectors:

• HIV/AIDS -- Stabilizing and reducing the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by concentrating on prevention; treatment, care, and support; legal and human rights; and monitoring, research, and evaluation.
• Governance -- Improving access to social services by supporting the creation of democratic principles, good governance, and legal reform policies, and strengthening South Africa's ability to deliver services to poor and vulnerable populations.
• Rural Development -- Improving access to technical and organizational services for small-scale farmers by providing expertise and education, as rural areas were particularly disadvantaged under apartheid planning.
• Regional cooperation -- Supporting South African initiatives that contribute to regional stability and cooperation by supporting demand-driven and mutually beneficial transfers of expertise between South Africa and neighbouring countries, to prevent political instability, conflict, extreme poverty, humanitarian crises, and massive migration movements.

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Results

Technical assistance provided through Rooftops Canada has led to significant innovations in the Gauteng Provincial Department of Housing's social housing subsidy program and delivery mechanisms. The project has also been instrumental in the development and establishment of Technical Resource Groups, which are helping to shape and provide substance to South Africa's recently released housing policy.

The HIV/AIDS Rapid Response Fund has improved the capacity of organizations and government to address gender equality issues in their initiatives and implement South Africa's HIV/AIDS Strategic and Operational Plans.

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Country Profile

Since the elections in 1994 that ended apartheid and aimed to create an equitable, multicultural society, South Africa has become a country with a robust democracy, economic strength, social achievements, and advanced development.

South Africa played a key role in the creation and evolution of the Africa-led New Partnership for Africa's Development in 2002, and is fully committed to the strengthening of existing institutions, such as the Southern African Development Community and the African Union.

Since the transition to democracy, many aspects of South African life have improved under democratic rule. The government has displayed a strong commitment to reducing inequality and poverty.

Yet inequalities continue to exist in many aspects of human development, from income distribution and employment to access to basic services such as health, education, and water. Poverty and inequalities, exacerbated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, undermine South Africa's past achievements and democratic stability.