Connecting-The-Dots™
Move beyond procrastination!
Setting the Scene
South Africa (August 2013): Reported unemployment rate is now over 25% and the figures for newly created jobs are so low (or none existing?), that they are expressed in the statistics as “saved and created” jobs. South Africa’s economic growth prospects are dismal with the country ranked third last in Africa – ahead of only Swaziland and Equatorial Guinea[1].
What is done about it?
A lot is written and theorised: Reports, studies, policies, frameworks and plans:
Example: Integrated Growth and Development Plans (IGDP) and Medium Term Strategic Framework
“The IGDP describes the current realities and challenges of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector and outlines goals, objectives and the interventions that need to be made to achieve the vision of “an equitable, productive, competitive, and sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sector, growing to the benefit of ALL South Africans”. The IGDP takes its cue from the twelve outcomes identified in the Medium Term Strategic Framework to address the country’s key challenges. Achieving these outcomes …” [2]
Example: Report – Green Jobs
“The primary purpose of this report is to provide a segmented view of the net direct job creation anticipated to emerge in the formal economy across a wide range of technologies/activities that may be classified as green or contributing to the greening of the economy. Supplemented by related information, both international and domestic, it is hoped that it will also assist a broad spectrum of stakeholders in embracing a green economic revolution, contribute to the prioritisation debate and to the respective strategic planning. Furthermore, by highlighting implementation challenges that are deemed key to unlock the green economy’s potential, the report also brings to the fore the importance of stakeholder interventions across the board. The success of such interventions would determine South Africa’s ability to capture an earlier stage within a limited window of opportunity and develop competitive advantage in specific green areas ..” [3]
Workshops are conducted, the market is studied and some practical advise is given:
How to go about it (Market Study: Bio Energy [4])
As part of their “Market Studies for Renewable Energy” in South Africa, the Netherlands Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, discusses the opportunities, makes suggestions on how to enter this business-to-business market and how to find the proper entry with the Government? It gives directions on the relevant rules and regulations and advise on how a foreign company may go about a local partner.
How do you eat an elephant?
One bite at a time. We all know the saying, but we often fail to apply this lesson in our lives. These lessons can equally be applied to the development of the green economy and the jobs it will create.
References:
[1] Downloaded 19 Aug 2013: http://www.dakzn.org.za/president-owes-south-africas-unemployed-an-explanation [2] Downloaded 19 Aug 2013: http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=172748 [3] Downloaded 19 Aug 2013: http://www.idc.co.za/projects/Greenjobs.pdf [4] Downloaded 19 Aug 2013: http://southafrica.nlembassy.org/binaries/content/assets/postenweb/z/zuid_afrika/netherlands-embassy-in-pretoria/import/the_embassy/economic-affairs/bioenergy-intro.pdfAgriculture, forestry & fisheries Department: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA Integrated Growth and Development Plan 2012
GREEN JOBS: AN ESTIMATE OF THE DIRECT EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL OF A GREENING SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY
Doing Business In South Africa: Bio Energy
