.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
DEPUTY
DIRECTOR-GENERAL
DR NONHLANHLA MKHIZE
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Branch - Environmental Programmes (EP) is responsible for implementing the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) mandate through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) approach. As a public employment intervention, the EPWP contributes towards addressing unemployment, poverty, and inequality. EP liaises with other branches of the department and, where possible, ensures the implementation of policy commitments through the labour-intensive EPWP approach. In its implementation activities, EP prioritises compliance with the national demographic targets of 60% women, 55% youth, and 2% people living with disabilities. In job creation, EP integrates skills development and supports the development of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs). EP implements its projects through service providers and using its in-house project management capacity. The EP Branch, through the departmental strategic plan, contributes to the following
OUTCOMES:
- More decent jobs are created and sustained, with youth, women, and persons with disabilities prioritised.
- Ecosystems were rehabilitated and managed.
- Integrated fire management,
- Infrastructure, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and
- Healthy, clean, and safe coastal environment.
FUNCTIONS
The Branch - EP has four chief directorates (CDs) namely 3 implementation regions and SC&QM. The 3 regions implement the EP infrastructure, non-infrastructure, and youth empowerment and development projects throughout the country. The SC&QM provides technical support and quality management to Environmental Programmes regions 1, 2, and 3.
CHIEF DIRECTORATES EP | Region 1, 2 and 3
The chief directorates provide strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability with respect to the EP in all nine provinces of the country, with the following functions:
1. Oversee and provide strategic leadership for EP. | 2. Oversee the implementation of the EP portfolio. | 3. Ensure operational efficiencies for EP. | 4. Ensure capacity and contractor development for EP.
TOP MANAGEMENT
Ms Nomahlubi Geja
Ms N Geja
CD EP region 1:
Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northwest
Mr Ahmed Khan
Mr A Khan
CD EP region 2:
Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal
Ms Tabisa Fiko
Ms T Fiko
CD EP region 3:
Free State, Northern Cape and Gauteng
Ms Matilda Skosana
Ms M Skosana
CD SC and QM
CD Sector Coordination and Quality Management
SC&QM Chief Directorate
The SC&QM Chief Directorate oversees the coordination of the EPWP environment and culture sector mandate of the DFFE, which incorporates planning, reporting, monitoring, and evaluation programmes and projects, with the following functions:
- Manage EPWP coordination and implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and reporting to support the branch and the EPWP environment and culture sector.
- Manage the implementation and compliance of safety, health, environment, and quality (SHEQ) in EP projects,
- Manage the technical support and planning functions of EP for all infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects,
- Manage and coordinate environmental management support programmes at the local government level and
- Develop, implement, and manage Environmental Programme branch EPWP contractors and business development initiatives and models and the progressive growth towards sustainable enterprises.
Branch - EP collaborations
To ensure efficient project management, the Branch - EP collaborates with public entities, municipalities, and national and provincial departments. The branch also engages with academia, community-based organisations (CBOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community property associations (CPAs), traditional authorities, etc. in implementing its projects. Other stakeholders include EPWP participants, service providers, and owning entities.
The implementation approach for EP projects is based on three implementation models, namely: (i) infrastructure, (ii) non-infrastructure, and (iii) Youth Empowerment and Development (YED).
Infrastructure projects
Infrastructure projects are built-environment projects that contribute towards environmental protection, conservation, and sustainability. These projects employ a combination of conventional construction methods and labour-intensive methods. The planning of these projects is carried out by Built Environment Professionals, while the construction is carried out by contractors registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).
Non-infrastructure projects
Non-infrastructure projects refer to labour-intensive projects with minimal or no infrastructure and construction components, focusing on the large intake of participants under the EPWP. These projects support the departmental mandate and national development goals in ensuring better environmental management, natural resource management, skills development, and poverty reduction. The main sub-programmes in this portfolio include Working for Water, Working for Land, Working for the Coast, Working on Fire, Working for Wetlands, and Working on Waste.
YED
These are projects that promote youth participation in socio-economic growth for their optimum development as individuals and members of society. The objective of this model is to address youth unemployment through the creation of temporary jobs and skills development opportunities that intend to increase the chances of youth employability and/or progression to entrepreneurship. They promote the creation of pathways through experiential training, community services, further education and training, as well as exit opportunities.