NICHE partners in South Africa join forces
South Africa was one of the first countries in which NICHE projects were launched. Most of the eleven projects in the country are now well underway and ready to report on their results. Nuffic held a national reporting workshop in South Africa for project coordinators and financial managers, to facilitate the reporting process.
Reporting skills
On 19 and 20 January 2012 representatives from the eleven projects participated in the reporting workshop, which was a follow-up of a previously held financial administration workshop.
Supporting cross-project collaboration
In addition to its focus on reporting skills improvement, the workshop also aimed to enhance strategic thinking among staff working on NICHE project and stimulate cross-project collaboration.
Expectations
After a brief introduction of the projects, the participants set out their expectations. These included:
- Becoming more familiar with NICHE reporting format and audit requirements;
- Learning more about the other NICHE projects in South Africa and sharing experiences and best practices;
- Dealing with Dutch partners and local partners in a consortium set-up.
Outcomes
Apart from improving reporting skills, the workshop gave the participants a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and stimulate future cooperation. It also gave them a better sense of ownership and the understanding that their projects together are what makes up the NICHE programme in South Africa.
South Africa in transition
Under the new Dutch international cooperation policy South Africa has been labelled a ‘transitional country’, together with Vietnam and Colombia. In fact, no new NICHE projects will be launched in these three countries.
Therefore, the focus will shift from development cooperation to economic cooperation, as Nico Visser, Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Pretoria, explained.
A Transition Fund at the embassy will support local business initiatives that will increase trade and investment between the Netherlands and South Africa in the following areas:
- Alternative energy
- Logistics
- Water
- Sustainable agriculture