By Marinda Weideman and Barry Pinsky
The Equal Spaces: Social Housing to End Spatial Apartheid in South Africa project (ES Project) was a four-year initiative (2016 to 2020) funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The project was implemented by Rooftops Canada Foundation and Abri Internationale in partnership with numerous South African stakeholders.
ES Project stakeholders:
- National Department of Treasury, Human Settlements (DHS)
- Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation in the Presidency
- The Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA)
- The National Association of Social Housing Organizations (NASHO)
- The South African Local Government Association
- Several provincial and municipal governments
- Social Housing Institutions (SHIs)
- Community organizations
- Financial institutions and the private sector
The ES Project contributed to revitalizing inner-city urban communities using well-managed, affordable, and secure social housing developments to provide access to socio-economic opportunities that could also alleviate poverty and promote economic growth in a gender-sensitive manner.
Despite challenges such as political and leadership upheavals in South African metro cities and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project achieved important and sustainable results.
This successful ES Project demonstrates that through continuous engagement, relationship promotion, and substantial investment in capacity building, it is possible to develop a cohesive and gender-sensitive approach to social housing and urban regeneration with measurable impact.
ES project impact
By July 2020, five urban renewal projects were underway with an estimated value of R5.98 billion (US$409 million) in eThekwini and Cape Town metros. Approximately 27 sites have been planned, or are in progress, with a total potential for 9,120 social housing units and 340 transitional housing units for about 23,380 people.
Five of the developments (comprising 2,090 units) in progress have come through Requests for Proposals (RFPs) that included gender-specific targets for economic development and employment opportunities for women. The intention is to ensure that all future RFPs include such gender-specific targets. Several developments will also target women informal traders working in affected precincts.
The project succeeded in strengthening the capacity of more than 90% of the urban regeneration stakeholders (including government departments, aid agencies, social housing institutions, financial institutions, private sector representatives, and local communities) targeted through a variety of capacity-building workshops, exchange visits, and other interventions.
NASHO data shows that the project also succeeded in improving the performance of SHIs in the delivery and management of social housing. This includes the implementation of a Gender Equality Strategy for Social Housing (in partnership with the SHRA). Furthermore, local funding is now available to support programs to reduce and respond to gender-based violence and promote women’s leadership in the social housing sector.
Gender-sensitive precinct development/urban renewal/social housing tools were developed for local government and other interested stakeholders. Further, 68 best practices, project reports, and new or revised policies and procedures were produced of which approximately 35% had a gender equality focus.
A joint SHRA and NASHO project that grew out of the ES Project will support 12 municipalities and five new SHIs to engage with social housing over the next five years. This demonstrates sustainable impact and the lasting legacy of the partnerships forged and nurtured by the Canadian-supported project.
*An observer’s perspective represents a technical overview elucidated by monitoring and evaluation consultants. The document covers the summary, impact, and timeline of well-known development projects selected by DevelopmentAid experts.
