What is Casidra?

Casidra is the acronym for ‘Cape Agency for Sustainable Integrated Development in Rural Areas’. Casidra is a Provincial Government Enterprise of the Western Cape Government.
The organisation is listed as a Schedule 3D Public Entity (Provincial business entity) in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) and has a Board of Directors as an accounting authority. Casidra resides under the Western Cape Department of Agriculture and its Minister as the designated Executive Authority.  The Department provides transfer funding to Casidra in terms of the PFMA.

• Our Mandate is “Agricultural and Economic Development within a Rural and Land reform context”.
• Our Vision is to be the Catalyst for Growth towards Self-sustainable Communities.
• Our Mission is To maximize Agricultural and Economic Development opportunities in rural communities through Project Management Excellence.
• Our Deliverable is “Project Management Excellence”.
• Our Motto is “Together for Rural Development”.

Values

Our supporting values are:

• Integrity: We act in an ethical manner with trust, honesty, reliability and credibility.
• Professionalism: We deliver excellent work with a positive attitude by well-skilled people using best practice in a business-like approach.
• Caring: We want the best for our customers and staff, treat them with respect and empathy, whilst embracing diversity.
• Development-Driven: We add value to people and business to ensure sustainable growth.
• Innovative:  We strive to seek better and lasting solutions.

Our six strategic priorities

Our six priorities form the backbone of the Company’s strategy and will continue to be executed in 2023 and beyond. If these priorities are successfully and timeously implemented, they will lead to much stronger and more sustainable service delivery by Casidra.  These priorities are as follows:

Strategic Priority #1: Secure sustainable and additional funding from diversified sources

Strategic Priority #2: Deliver world-class project management services to all stakeholders

Strategic Priority #3: Modernise the Company’s IT infrastructure and systems

Strategic Priority #4: Foster a winning, team culture amongst all employees

Strategic Priority #5: Ensure greater equity in the workplace

Strategic Priority #6: Engage more closely with existing and potential stakeholders

Casidra renders a project management service to Departments within the Western Cape Government (WCG), local authorities, businesses, non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) community-based organisations (CBO’s), academic institutions, other governmental agencies and international assistance institutions. As the official implementing agent for the Western Cape Government, development projects are planned and implemented by Casidra. Its proven ability and skills, ground level involvement in communities, proven track record and sound financial record-keeping, reporting and auditing make Casidra the preferred implementing agent.

Casidra’s approach to rural development is holistic and multi-sectoral, focusing on improving the social and economic wellbeing of rural people. The type of community development projects implemented vary, but are all aimed at alleviating poverty, stimulating broad-based economic growth and unlocking the human resources and capacity in rural communities. This approach is based upon community-driven endeavours which facilitate economic empowerment and sustainability, and ultimately help to establish self-sufficient communities.

We aim to:

• Encourage stability
• Open doors of opportunity for resource poor people
• Make a measurable impact on the reduction of poverty

We do project management in:

• Agriculture and Land Reform
• Rural Infrastructure and Poverty Alleviation
• Local Economic and Business Development

Who is targeted by Casidra?

Casidra works in resource poor communities of the Western Cape where poverty is rife. Assistance is given to communities committed to achieving sustainable development, but which lack the technical skills or resources necessary to implement policies and programmes.

Casidra uses a project management approach to deliver on its strategic goals, working closely with other role-players to address specific needs of rural communities.  The ability to achieve results is greatly affected by the willingness of role-players to co-operate in a productive partnership.

Legal Mandate

Casidra provides services to improve the quality of life of rural communities, and is:

• Registered as a SOC Ltd under the Companies Act, 2008 (Act 61 of 2008)
• Listed as a Schedule 3D Provincial Government Business Enterprise in terms of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act 1 of 1999).

Public Finance Management Act

Section 38 (1) (a) of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999 requires accounting officers of government departments to ensure that entities receiving transfer funding implement effective, efficient and transparent financial management and internal control systems, and define audit requirements.

Risk Management

Casidra’s control framework is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of accounting objectives. Risks impacting on achieving these objectives are assessed and systems implemented to improve the ability to identify controls to mitigate the risks.

Information and Communication

Casidra has a comprehensive process of reporting and budgets being reported and reviewed continuously. In accordance with the legal requirement, Casidra has published its Public Access to Information Statement, which can be downloaded from its website.

Preferential Procurement Policy

Casidra underwrites the Provincial and National development initiatives for preferential procurement. A Preferential Procurement Policy has been developed and is adhered to by Casidra.  The policy is based on the “Preferential Procurement Policy Framework” (Act 5 of 2000).

Who Funds Casidra?

The organisation is funded by the Western Cape Government. Projects are also implemented on behalf of various government departments and donor agencies. Closer private sector involvement will benefit not only development in rural areas, but also the economic empowerment of the Western Cape as a whole.

Casidra seeks to attract international attention and additional sources of assistance to strengthen our efforts towards establishing increasing numbers of thriving, self-sufficient rural communities in the Western Cape. If you create an environment where sufficient financial security exists, it creates stability and loyalty.

Effective medium-term planning is possible and the implementation of projects can be handled efficiently. To expand and address strategic objectives, financial capacity is required. A long-term commitment of the WCG for sufficient funding will contribute significantly to results. Concerted efforts are made to solicit funding from the private sector and donor organisations.

An appeal is made to donor organisations and grant makers to contribute to the programmes for poverty alleviation, rural development and capacity building.

For more information, enquiries and news, contact our Public Relation/Communications Manager, Experience Matshediso.