Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the IDPNC?
• Context of the IDPNC
• What is the main aim of the IDPNC?
• Why do we need the IDPNC?
• What are the main objectives of the IDPNC?
• What products and services are offered by the IDPNC?
• What are the minimum requirements to make use of the IDPNC?
• What about those municipalities that have no access to the Internet?
• Who will fund the IDPNC?
• Who will benefit from the IDPNC?
• What are the benefits?
• Is the use of the IDPNC Mandatory?
• Who is responsible for capturing information on the IDPNC?
• Who manages access to organisational information on the IDPNC?
• Will it be possible to exchange information with the IDPNC?
• How will the IDPNC be implemented?

The IDP Nerve Centre consist of:

1. An Internet-based information system that enables municipalities and departments to communicate key planning, programme and project-based information to one another;
2. Facilities and processes to ensure that the Service functions effectively, including training, online support and dedicated personnel; and
3. A Council representing the interest of all three spheres of government, overseeing the strategic direction, processes, procedures, standards and change requests of the IDP Nerve Centre.

On 14 December 2001, the Presidential Coordinating Council (PCC) resolved to "accelerate the implementation of a system of state-wide planning wherein Integrated Development Planning (IDP) serves as the basis for aligning policy, planning and budgeting processes across all spheres". The establishment of an IDP Nerve Centre (IDPNC), as a tool to support intergovernmental planning, forms part of the PCC Action Plan for Local Government and has been approved by the Governance and Administration (G&A) and LG MINMEC.

To support inter-governmental planning in South Africa using IDP as the building block.

Much of the information emanating from the IDP process is available only as unstructured paper-based or digital media. This makes it nearly impossible for national & provincial departments or donor agencies to align their planning and funding support with the IDP. At the same time, municipalities find it equally difficult to source key planning and project-based information from other spheres, applicable to their areas.

The services of the IDP Nerve Centre will be guided by the following business objectives:

1. To strengthen the link between local, provincial and national priorities and objectives, resource allocation and implementation;
2. To provide the means whereby municipalities can maintain and communicate key IDP information, thereby supporting ease of access and use by stakeholders across government;
3. To support integrated infrastructure and service delivery;
4. To support coordination between sectors, clusters and priority areas;
5. To support inter-governmental spatial coordination with regard to investment decisions;
6. To support the timely submission of key planning information to one another; and
7. To promote strong, clear flows of information across spheres.

The IDPNC currently includes the following products and services:

1. e-Library: Access key documents and contact information;
2. e-Mapping: Access maps, charts and tables, containing basic planning information of your area;
3. e-Project: Manage your own strategic planning, project and funding information and view similar information from other organisations;
4. e-Funding: Access key funding information
5. e-Template: Supply key information to others;
6. e-Xchange: import and export data to the IDPNC
7. e-Admin: Manage your own user and organisational profiles and permissions; and
8. Online IDPNC Help & Call Desk.

1. An Internet Browser such as Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher;
2. A connection to the World Wide Web;
3. Your own email account (e.g. user@organisation.co.za)
4. User and/or organisational registration on the IDPNC.

The IDPNC will, where possible, assist those municipalities by introducing them to initiatives aimed at strengthening municipal infrastructure.

The Department of Provincial and Local Government will fund the basic services of the IDP Nerve Centre.

Individuals and organisations that are either directly or indirectly involved in development planning and service delivery in local government. These include but are not limited to Members of Parliament; Councillors; Municipal Managers; Heads of Departments; Project Managers; Development Planners; IDP Coordinators & Managers, Financial Managers, Investors, etc.

Benefits of using the IDPNC include, but are not limited to:

• Improved access to key IDP planning and project-based information, informing the prioritisation and allocation of resources to municipalities;
• Access to programme and project-based information of key national and provincial departments;
• Access to key funding sources; and
• Access to spatial planning information

The supply of information to the IDPNC is not mandatory at present, but it is likely to become mandatory as part of the Inter-governmental Relations (IGR) Act, Conditions linked to the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and the Division of Revenue Act.

As custodians of their information, Municipalities and Departments are responsible for capturing their own information, however during the initial implementation period the implementation team will provide assistance where possible.

Municipalities and Departments will manage access to their organisational information.

From the outset, the IDPNC recognised the need to exchange information with a multitude of other information systems throughout government as a critical success factor. To make this possible, the IDPNC subscribes to the collaboration standards developed by ACTIONiT (see http://www.actionit.org.za for further information).

The IDPNC will follow an incremental implementation approach, consisting of a start-up or initiation period (Feb 2004 – December 2004) in North West Province followed by a period of national implementation (2005 - 2006). Progress with regard to the programme of implementation will be communicated on a regular basis as part of news updates. Implementation will be done in close consultation with affected national, provincial and municipal stakeholders.