Policy Coherence, Policy Alignment & Institutional Coherence

Some food for thought…….

Transport Forum: 1st October 2015 By: Elvin Harris

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Disclaimer

This is NOT a Transnet presentation. The views expressed are those of the presenter alone. They are personal contemplations and reflections, meant to start a conversation amongst the Transport Policy Community….which I believe fits very nicely with the work of the Transport Forum SIG i.e not only to be informed and updated, but also to engage in discussion and conversation on topical matters. It’s a very simple, but hopefully, discussion, and is not based on hard science or scientific analysis. It is hoped that the robust scientific analysis and research will follow…..

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What is Policy Coherence?

According to the OECD:

“The systematic promotion of mutually reinforcing policy actions across government departments and agencies creating synergies towards achieving the agreed objectives. Within national governments, policy coherence issues arise between different types of public policies, between different levels of government, between different stakeholders and at an international level.”

– The EU mostly refers to policy coherence in the context of programmes for

Developing Countries i.e. Policy Coherence for Development

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International Perspective: Strong Coherence & Alignment Policies, Institutions & Implementation

• Singapore

• Germany

• Netherlands

• USA/USSR after WW2

• China

• European Union?

• SADC?

• Gulf States?

• Canada

• Switzerland

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Coherence in Drug and Alcohol Policy in Ireland: a useful model

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Perceived Policy Incongruence in the US as portrayed by cartoonist Herbert Block

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National Policies & Strategies

Strong Coherence and Alignment

• RDP

• GEAR

• AsgiSA

• MSA

• NDP

• NGP

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A Brief History of (Time)…. National Transport Policy & Strategy Development in South Africa

• 1909 – South Africa Act (not policy though): provided for administration of Railways, Ports and Harbours of the Union – Airways added in 1916 – Roads Boards established under act 39, 1930 – National Roads Board established under act 42, 1935

• 1936 – Calls for the establishment of a Ministry of Transport • 1943 – Establishment of Ministry of Transport (sectoral) • 1969 – Commission of Enquiry into the Coordination of Transport in

South Africa (Marais Report) • 1986 – DeVilliers Report (multi-modal) • 1996 – White Paper on National Transport Policy (sectoral) • 1998/99 – Moving South Africa & MSA – The Action Agenda (sectoral) • 2002 – Commercial Ports Policy (modal) • 2005 – National Freight Logistics Strategy (multi-modal) • 2015 - Green Paper on National Rail Policy (modal)

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Many great policies and strategies over many years, but results in achieving policy outcomes have been mixed….

Why?

• Sometimes its design…..

• Sometimes its processes…..

• *Mostly, according to M.F. Mitchell, its:

– Implementation

– Implementation

– Implementation…….

• And at times, a combination!

* Source: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED ASPECTS OF SOUTH AFRICAN TRANSPORTATION POLICY (Malcolm F Mitchell, UJ, 2009

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Where are we NOW? Current National Transport Policy & Strategy Development s

National Rail Policy

Review of NFLS National Road

Freight Strategy

Natmap 2.0

Branch lines Strategy

Review of National Transport Policy

Draft Bill on Economic Regulation of Transport

How coherent are we?

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Is Policy Alignment and Coherence Possible, or is it an impossible pipedream?

Yes!

BUT, ……..

It depends…….

• Political system of governing – dictatorship or constitutional democracy, or something in-between?

• Socio-economic conditions?

• Political & Societal consciousness – fearful or tolerant?

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Perhaps achieving Policy Coherence, Alignment and Institutional Coherence is a matter of degrees rather than absolutes….

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Target Zone

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