Technical Assistance - TAU - National Treasury

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Case Studies of The National Treasury’s Technical Assistance Unit
Chapter 5: eConomiC, investment & employment Cluster
Therefore, the TAU requested that a detailed capacitation plan be submitted for approval,
which was accepted and approved thereafter.
The focus of the support is on capacity building and skills transfer, focusing on three main
areas, namely:
• Individual: Focusing on improving the skills and competencies of individuals;
• Organisational: Focusing on improving the overall functioning of the organisation to
deliver on its mandate; and
• Environmental: Focusing on the broader environment in which capacity is built and
ensuring that the environment is supportive of these skills or competency expansion.
The TAU stipulated that support be predominantly strategic and that it be embedded in the
organisation’s systems and processes. Quarterly meetings are held between the TAU, JOSCHO
and the TA (Mr Cohen), to ensure that the work is being implemented according to the contract.
TAU Achievements
The support provided by Mr Cohen is focused on the following six outputs by the end of his term:
• The transfer of public housing stock from the City of Johannesburg to JOSHCO;
• Development at all levels, including; systems, processes, procedures and tools linking to
property management, as well as physical and community development;
• Strengthening and enhancing the relationship with JOSHCO’s stakeholders;
• Ensuring that JOSHCO has planned, implemented and monitored its annual strategic
business plan for the organisation;
• Enhancing the relations between all of JOSHCO’s departments; and
• Ensuring that JOSHCO’s funding for all its activities are committed to project operations
and to implement the transfer of housing stock.
Mr Cohen works within all levels of the organisation, starting with senior management, where
assistance is provided in order to help improve understanding from an operational and
strategic standpoint, in terms of how to conduct activities in the organisation.
Mr Cohen states:
“It’s important to build the capacity of the organisation and not to simply run with filling in gaps,
because when you leave, the situation will revert to how it was previously. Hence it is important to
leave a legacy of the understanding of the business from all levels of operation and how to operate
at a strategic level.”
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE | A Vehicle For Improving Government’s Performance