The Rural ABM - An Introduction

The rural area is a vast 1500 km.sq. hinterland located northwest and southwest of the city, including the peri-urban areas alongside the N2 and N3 corridors.

It comprises 67% of the city’s spatial footprint and falls beyond the ‘urban edge’ or sustainability line.  It is largely defined by its geo-spatial features such as hilly, rugged terrain, dispersed settlement patterns in traditional dwellings, and communal land holding under Ngonyama Trust.

The area is also characterized by severe poverty and unemployment with many households reliant on localized social assets such as community networks and organizations. Another challenge is the environmental vulnerability of the area due to heavy reliance by households on the natural resource base.  The situation is exacerbated by fragmented services delivery, unresolved land tenure, a shortage of substantive information, and a legacy of lack of planning.

The ABM aims to develop alternative approaches to the delivery of basic services; develop effective institutional arrangements and development processes; and expand the range of income generating opportunities for the people of the area.  These interventions aim to facilitate access to basic services, enhance economic livelihoods and improve systems of governance in the rural areas.

Rural ABM Goals
The Rural Area Based Management and Development (Rural ABMD) is to facilitate and co-ordinate the development and management of rural areas that are fully integrated within the metropolitan context.

Our key strategic objectives are three fold:

• To develop alternative approaches to the delivery of basic services that would ensure access to sustainable, affordable and appropriate basic services of rural communities
• To expand the range of income generating opportunities thereby enhancing economic livelihoods of rural households
• To develop effective institutional arrangements and development processes that would  result in improved systems of governance in rural areas

Research

Undertake a series of research exercises to

• (a) address the lack of data and analysis on rural areas and prepare baseline studies,
• (b) examine current servicing systems and institutional arrangements and assess feasibility of alternative systems and arrangements,
• (c) assess potential of existing resources and activities for economic empowerment opportunities,
• (d) identify “good practice” examples to provide guidelines, and
• (e) disseminate research findings as widely as possible for maximum impact.

Integrated planning

Formulate appropriate and implementable development frameworks to guide socio-economic and spatial development of rural areas through participative community-based processes.

Support

Identify and support initiatives that would improve socio-economic livelihoods of rural communities.

• Promote communication and participation of citizens and other key stakeholders
• Ensure that that there is information and knowledge sharing, and active participation of citizens and other key stakeholders within eThekwini Municipality.