• Overview
• Who we are
• Vision and mission
• Board
  • Rejoice Mabudafhasi (Chairperson)
  • Silas Mbedzi (Deputy Chairperson)
  • Nhlakanipho Nkontwana
  • Asivhanga Tshibubudze
  • Ian Palmer
  • Deon Richter
  • Caesar Vundule
  • Gabsie Mathenjwa
  • Matodzi Ratshimbilani
  • Nombulelo Bellindah Mokonotela
  • Zandile Gumede
  • Helen Tshivhase
• Management
  • Acting Chief Executive Officer
  • Director Business Integration and Regional Support
  • National Programmes Manager
  • Policy, Advocacy and Training Manager
  • Durban Region
  • Eastern Cape Region
  • Empangeni Region
  • Free State Region
  • Limpopo Region
  • North West Region
  • Mpumalanga Region
• Regions/Units
  • Eastern Cape
  • Free State
  • KwaZulu-Natal
  • Limpopo
  • Mpumalanga
  • North West
  • Policy unit
    • Programmes
    • Publications
    • Research
    • Links

Policy unit

About Policy Unit

The Policy Unit is based in Mvula Trust head office in Braamfotein Johannesburg. The PU is led by Takalani Modau.  The Policy Unit is staffed by specialists focussing on disciplines such as:

• Water services provision policies and regulation
• Local government Transformation
• Training and facilitation
• Wasterwater Management
• Sustainable Livelihoods
• Advocacy
• Knowledge Management

The Mvula Trust’s close working relationship with the government enables it to influence government policies by demonstrating good practice and by having a seat at the table when policy issues are considered. In particular, its focus on community-based approaches and its understanding of poor communities’ priorities and capabilities have influenced the government’s approach to rural development. This impact on policy has been particularly strong in sanitation. The approach now used in all government sanitation programmes was piloted by the Trust between 1994 and 1997 and the Trust had a major input into the sanitation policy published in 2001.

Over 80% of the government’s sanitation programme has been implemented by the Mvula Trust, and its sanitation specialists have been contracted to advise government on the current scaling up of the programme. Its impact on water policy has been subtler. While few of the elements of the Mvula Trust’s demand-responsive community management model have been fully adopted by government, the Trust has worked closely with DWA over the years developing tools and guidelines used in the implementation of the government programme. The Mvula Trust is a member of the Water Services Sector Leadership Group, which is led by the government, and is one of the two representatives of the civil society on the government’s Water Service Programme.

How We Work

1. Liaison and interaction with national government departments and statutory institutions Such as DWA, DPLG, SALGA and NDA
2. Contracts with National Government, for instance Masibambane, S78 WSP selection frameworks, SFWS
3. WRC research assignments such as Free Basic Water, appropriate technologies, informal settlements
4. Community Based Organisations involvement in Operation and Monitoring
5. Collaborations and action research funded by international donors such Mott Foundation, Ausaid, EU, DfID
6. Support to Regional Offices. This involves training officials, public participation policy, integrated development projects, interaction with municipalities

We are committed to innovation through:

1. Applied research

2. Advocacy

• Annual Diary; Maru-a-pula
• Turning advocacy into action
• CSO Regulation Reference Group

3. Sharing lessons

• Participation in ANEW
• Best practice conferences; Attending and facilitating national and international conferences

4. Training and capacity support

• WSA functions; Water Resources Management functions; NW Sanitation Programmes
• Councillor Development Programme
• DWA Regional Support programme