DSD STRENGTHENS POLICY CAPACITY AHEAD OF NEW WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

By Mashudu Mzimba

• The Department of Social Development, along with the Southern African Policy and Development Nexus, is preparing staff to develop a new White Paper on Social Development.
• This is intended to strengthen policy development, improve policy coherence and build an evidence-based social development system.
• White Paper will provide an overarching policy framework for social development and lay the foundation for a future Social Development Act.

The Department of Social Development conducted a Policy Development Training Programme from 21 to 23 July 2026 in Pretoria, in partnership with the Southern African Policy and Development Nexus (SAPDN).

The three-day programme formed part of preparations for the new White Paper on Social Development and reflected the department’s commitment to strengthening policy development capacity, improving policy coherence, and building a responsive, evidence-informed social development system.

The training equipped officials with the knowledge and practical skills required to develop modern, transformative and fit-for-purpose policies that respond effectively to South Africa’s current and emerging social challenges.

Participants explored key areas such as social policy, public policy, social development, evidence-informed policymaking and policy implementation. They were also introduced to different policy paradigms and implementation models, while learning how to connect research, evidence, evaluation and implementation with developmental outcomes.

The programme further strengthened participants’ ability to assess whether policies are achieving their intended objectives and delivering a meaningful impact on communities.

The proposed White Paper is expected to provide an overarching policy framework for social development and lay the foundation for a future Social Development Act.

It will advance a comprehensive and broad-based social development agenda that moves beyond a traditional welfare approach towards a more inclusive and developmental state.

Importantly, the process will support an evidence-based review of departmental policies to ensure that they remain relevant, coherent, modernised and fit for purpose.
It will also seek to improve coordination across the department and address the fragmentation caused by policies and services operating in silos.

Consolidating various policies under the White Paper could enable beneficiaries to access services more seamlessly across government. Ideally, a parent who already receives a social grant would not have to submit the same information repeatedly when applying for related social services within sectors such as education.

Mr Khethani Hlongwa, Director: Social Policy and coordinator of the capacity-development series, said the training was important as the department undertakes the significant task of developing an overarching policy framework.

“As the department embarks on the momentous task of developing an overarching policy framework in the form of a White Paper on Social Development, it is important that the department’s cadre is reoriented towards evidence-based policymaking in line with the envisaged direction of the White Paper,” he said.

Course instructor Professor Ndangwa Noyoo of SAPDN emphasised the importance of establishing a common understanding of social development.