Advanced Certificate in Local Governance and Management

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

• Explain the concepts of project management and performance management in the context of local government programmes.
• Describe the project components, methodologies, the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), the Government's Programme of Action (POA), Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and overall project governance as they apply to local government programmes.
• Apply the process and methodologies for establishing local government service partnerships, outsourcing, contracting and service level agreements in relation to local government programmes.
• Explain the statutory and regulatory framework for performance management with examples including the performance dimensions, cycle and systems in relation to local government programmes and service delivery objectives.
• Differentiate between the process for auditing and reporting on performance and the procedures discussed in the context of municipal service delivery and codes of conduct.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

• Describe the concept of ethics and good governance in the context of compliance with regulatory policies and integrate these into the overall local government ethics and good governance practices.
• Describe the official mechanisms to curb unethical conduct in local government as well as the managerial measures and remedies to prevent unethical conduct in municipalities.
• Interpret a case study of unethical conduct in a municipality.
• Describe the process for establishing codes of conduct and good governance to ensure sound ethical and good governance practices.
• Identify practices for enhancing accountability and transparency within the rule of law and for promoting excellence and public responsibility.
• Describe processes for improving civic participation that ensure political stability within local government programmes.
• Identify processes and practices to ensure good governance and sound ethical practices for taking responsibility for decisions taken within various committees and working forums.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3:

• Explain the facilitation of participation of stakeholders in decisions that affect municipal functions.
• Describe the importance of political, administrative and managerial roles in coordinating, communicating, and implementing local government development programmes.
• Apply the processes for ensuring political representation in organisational design and development.
• Describe the process for designing programmes that improve local government service delivery.
• Apply the procedures for effectively chairing relevant councils, committees, sub-committees and working groups to achieve objectives of local government programmes.
• Explain how to contextualise the macro organisation and the system of government in the South African constitutional system of co-operative governance.
• Explain the respective theories and approaches to organisational design and development.
• Describe the key characteristics and best practices associated with various types of organisational designs.
• Explain the selected organisational dynamics in local government organisations.
• Explain the organisational development and transformation in a dynamic governance context.
• Explain the processes for evaluating the respective approaches, tools and techniques to facilitate organisational effectiveness and performance.
• Explain the significance of transformational leadership in organisations to guide it towards its desired future by utilising planning techniques which incorporate local government programmes and project management.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4:

• Explain the complexities that government face in terms of striking a delicate balance between environment protection, sustainable development and economic growth.
• Describe the demographical and socio-economical realities of the South African and African governance landscape.
• Describe various African and South African governmental interventions, strategies, policies, programmes, institutional roles and activities promoting environmental protection, economic growth and development.
• Explain African and South African governmental policies, strategies and programmes to facilitate development within a developmental state.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5:

• Describe the environment of local government service delivery including the statutory framework for improved service delivery.
• Explain the role of the government in service delivery in relation to stakeholders including the community and market.
• Describe alternative service delivery approaches and mechanisms.
• Describe the primary versus secondary state functions, pure state functions, mixed functions and purely private functions.
• Apply the key managerial aspects of service delivery improvement, performance improvement, performance management systems.
• Describe the concepts of citizen vs. client/consumer, quality public service delivery, democratic principles for service delivery, Batho Pele principles of service delivery, public participation.
• Explain issues in democratising service delivery, e.g. accountability, representation, empowerment, participation and transparency.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 6:

• Explain the principles of sound financial corporate governance in the financial administration of a municipality.
• Explain the principles of strategic budgeting for local government.
• Explain the legislative requirements relating to the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in the financial administration in municipalities.
• Explain the principles of developing and implementing sound financial policies in accordance with best practice.
• Explain key financial governance structures.
• Interpret budgeting reporting procedures and contingency plans and solutions to problems relating to budget constraints.
• Explain the methods of allocation in relation to budget parameters according to overall local government budgetary allocation procedures.
• Monitor budgetary processes and procedures.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 7:

• Explain the principles and theories of strategic leadership.
• Describe the challenges and critical issues in applying the principles and theories of strategic leadership in a local government context.
• Apply the process for giving political direction to middle management in their allocated areas of responsibility.
• Explain the processes for working with 'council leadership' to ensure the effective governance of the authority.
• Describe leadership within the broader community.
• Describe practices for effectively articulating the diverse views of stakeholders in the context of particular decisions.
• Explain building consensus and managing conflict by reconciling varying points of view within the broader agenda for a municipality.
• Describe African leadership in a global governance context.