Municipal Innovation Collection

Introduction

Innovation has been placed on the developmental agenda of the South African government as one of the effective ways to improve service delivery, accountability and community participation. Across the country, several municipalities and other public institutions demonstrate dedication to establishing efficient government systems as evidenced by a number of innovative initiatives that are being implemented. Notable strides have also been made in the country’s regulatory framework to guide and inform public innovation. 

Given the wide interest and commitment to institutionalise innovation across the public sector, it is fitting to present a resource base that underscores the complexities, opportunities and imperatives of innovation in the public sector. This resource page is intended to achieve that.

It presents a resource base for the state of innovation in the public sector that is relevant to policy makers, governments, practitioners and scholars. It contributes to knowledge sharing and management, seeking to support a credible view of the state of innovation in the public sector.

The repository offers a trusted source covering existing municipal innovation of relevance to the southern African context. It links to journal articles, legislation, policies, conference papers, newspaper articles, case studies and guidelines related to innovations for service delivery.

List of resources

1. Service delivery and innovation

South African municipalities are severely constrained in providing equitable and sustainable services. The notion of service delivery innovation has emerged as governments across the world seek new ways to effect change. Innovation in government is about overcoming old structures and modes of thinking and embracing new technologies and ideas for more efficient service provision. This list provides resources that centre around the concepts of service delivery and innovation that highlight the complementary link between the two concepts, particularly the contribution that innovation makes to improving or enhancing service delivery.

• Fostering digital innovations to accelerate service delivery in South African Local Government
  This article links service delivery backlogs in South African local governments to a lack of public sector innovation, emphasising the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) (IoT) and Big Data to improve services by exploring the case of the City of Tshwane. Key barriers in the City of Tshwane include digital hesitancy, weak leadership, and a digital divide, hindering the adoption of these innovations. The study highlights that institutional readiness, revenue growth, and supportive policies are essential for successful digital transformation in municipal services.
  
   
• Open governance for improved service delivery innovation in South Africa
  The article examines how the 4IR affects government operations, stressing the necessity for adaptation to technologies such as the IoT and AI. It aims to evaluate the current state of public service delivery innovation (SDI) in South Africa through secondary data and document analysis. The article highlights that, although South Africa has implemented some innovative measures for service delivery, these initiatives lack full integration within the broader public service, and it advocates for open governance and collaboration to improve transparency and citizen engagement.
  
   
• Research on 4th Industrial Revolution: implications for local government in the context of skills development
  The study explores 4IR's effects on skills development in municipalities through case studies and best practices, ultimately providing recommendations for how South African local governments can effectively adapt to these changes.

2. Regulatory environment for service delivery innovation

There have been significant strides in policy and regulatory environments to guide the uptake of innovation in the public sector. This resource list provides an overview of the legislation, policies and strategies that govern the principles, systems, and processes of the innovation uptake in the public sector particularly pertaining to service delivery. The page also presents resources that scrutinise the policy and legislation for innovation uptake and the challenges of general policy implementation.

• White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation
  This White Paper sets the  long-term policy direction for the South African government to ensure a growing role for science, technology and innovation (STI) in a more prosperous and inclusive society. It focuses on using STI to accelerate inclusive  economic growth, make the economy more competitive, and improve people’s daily lives.
   

• Science, Technology and Innovations for Sustainable Human Settlements (STI4SHS) Roadmap
  The STI4SHS Roadmap serves as a ten-year policy framework (2020–2029) aimed at fostering innovation and scaling up technologies to create smart and sustainable human settlements. It aligns with key national policies and serves as an implementation plan to guide investment and institutionalise transformative initiatives in the sector. Ultimately, it seeks to position the government as a key enabler of innovation in society.

• Policy research study  to  determine the adoption and integration of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) into government policies and planning frameworks
  The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) commissioned Qualitative Evidence Research (QER) to conduct a policy study which aims to assess how national and provincial government departments (1) support innovation uptake, (2) integrate Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) into their policies and programmes, and (3) foster a culture of innovation within and across these departments.

• Local Government Innovation Toolkit
  This Toolkit is intended to provide guidance to municipalities on understanding the key elements of innovation, and the tools to manage innovation in their own contexts. It sets out the critical steps for municipalities to consider on their innovation journey.

3. Innovation barriers, drivers, and enablers

Introducing innovation practices to traditional systems can be difficult. Despite innovation gaining traction in the government sectors, there have been reported barriers (factors that hinder the successful institutionalisation of innovation practices). In many cases, innovative technologies often do not make it past the pilot phase. In the same vein, there are enablers (factors that facilitate innovation), and drivers (factors that trigger innovation) reported across public institutions. The list below presents resources that were collated from local and international studies into innovation barriers, drivers and enablers.
 

• Understanding innovation drivers and barriers in local government: a City of Tshwane Innovation Unit perspective
  The study explores the factors that drive or hinder innovation in the City of Tshwane to gain a deeper insight and understanding of the innovation drivers and barriers in local government. It highlights the important aspects that should be considered when formulating and implementing innovation in local government.
  
   
• Understanding the policy and  regulatory barriers for  water and sanitation RDI implementation in South Africa
  The study reviews and quantifies the policy and regulatory barriers to sustainable uptake and implementation of water services innovations in the country. It was to identify policy and legal barriers encountered when deploying innovations in the municipal water services sector, with the goal of removing or alleviating them in future.
  
   
• Social Innovation, an Alternative Approach to South African Local Government Service Delivery?
  The article examines how electronic municipal systems can enhance citizen welfare by improving service delivery. It identifies challenges faced by developing countries in implementing these systems, including the digital divide and trust issues. The article recommends investing in ICT infrastructure to foster the development of e-municipalities.

4. Innovation for service delivery: Best practices

Learning about innovation best practices helps improve efficiency and effectiveness by leveraging proven methods. It enables organisations to adapt to change, stay competitive, and address challenges effectively. Best practices provide guidance to overcome common barriers, such as limited resources or resistance to change. They foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, promoting scalable and sustainable solutions. Ultimately, understanding these practices ensures that innovation leads to impactful and long-term success.

• Municipal Innovation: 5 South African innovations applicable to municipalities
  The in.KNOW.vation publication by SALGA highlights innovative solutions for local government challenges. It includes case studies, impactful project profiles, and tools for improving service delivery in municipalities.

• The municipal services corrective action request and report system case study report
  The Corrective Action Request and Report System (CARRS) was created to enhance service delivery and support the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme. Developed by CSIR and funded by DSI, CARRS is an ICT tool that helps manage service delivery issues, reducing community dissatisfaction and unrest.

• The Adoption of Innovative Strategies for Enhanced Service Delivery in the South Africa Public Sector
  The study examines the challenges and opportunities for adopting innovative strategies to improve service delivery in South Africa's public sector, which faces increasing pressure and resource scarcity. With public services guaranteed by the constitution and a high reliance on state provisions, innovation is key to meeting citizens' needs. The study uses a qualitative approach to explore the role of innovation in public service enhancement and reviews barriers and benefits, offering strategies to overcome these obstacles.

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Above abstracts are based on original sources.