Africa Institute of South Africa
Presentation to the Science and Technology Portfolio Committee, Parliament, Cape Town
12 October 2011By
Dr Matlou – Chief Executive OfficerAnd
Mrs Maritz – Chief Financial Officer
Purpose of the PresentationPurpose of the Presentation
To present on the
AISA Annual Report
and
Audited Financial Statements
2010-2011
AISA’s Vision and Mission
VisionAn indispensable African voice on African Affairs.
MissionTo produce relevant research products aimed at informing sustainable political and socio-economic development in Africa.
Position StatementDevelopment Through Knowledge
Brand PromiseAfrica's knowledge resource
AISA’s Values
Introduction
Policy and commitment Policy and commitment :
• AISA is an organ of state governed mainly by:– AISA Act (Act 68 of 2001)– Public Finance Management Act (Act 1 of 1999)
• AISA’s Current Research Agenda– African Continental Integration- 2008-2011
AISA’s MandateAISA’s mandate is derived from the AISA act (Act 68 of 2001), which establishes it as a statutory body aimed to:
Provide research and policy development support in its pursuit of programmes that contribute to the development of the African continent;
Conduct research and embark on training programmes that foster continental patriotism and that promote increased awareness and understanding of the African continent among the peoples of South Africa and across the globe; and
Establish and participate in and maintain networks in Africa and globally which will contribute to the peace development and prosperity of the continent.
The institute pursues three objectives:
Promote knowledge and understanding of African affairs through leading social scientists acting in concert and across various disciplines and through training and education on African affairs,
Collect, process and disseminate information on African Affairs, give effective advice and facilitate appropriate action in relation to the collective needs, opportunities and challenges of the continent and
Promote awareness and consciousness of Africa at grassroots level.
AISA’s Objectives
Divisions within AISA Research: organised in 5 units, namely;
i. Peace and Securityii. Sustainable Developmentiii. Governance and Democracyiv. Science and Technology, andv. Knowledge Transfer and Skills Development
Publications Library and Documentation Outreach and International Liaison Corporate Affairs Finance and Administration Human Resources
AISA Management
• Dr Matlotleng Matlou – Chief Executive Officer• Vacant – Executive Director Research• Prof Phindile Lukhele-Olorunju – Director Research: Natural
Sciences• Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller – Director Research: Social Sciences• Mr. Solani Ngobeni – Director Publications• Ms. Elsie Maritz – CFO• Ms. Ingrid Canham – HR Manager• Ms Cecilia Silolo-Tshishonga - Corporate Affairs Manager
AISA 2010-2011
AISA’S ACHIEVEMENTS
IN DELIVERING
ON ITS MANDATE
Research Output 2010/2011
i. Governance and DemocracySeeks to promote and encourage the institutionalization and entrenchment of democracy and governance fundamentals as a basis for integration. Work focuses on: International partnerships with Africa – including Brazil/ China/ India/ Russia/USA- Africa, PRAU/IGD/AISA /DBSA/ BRICS through DIRCO and AU; Auditing the African Peer Review Mechanism processes in Africa, in particular the implementation of the national plans of actions; Political leadership, parties and the sustainability of democracy in Africa; Researching key socio-political and economic issues in international relations and cooperation and how these affect South Africa, Southern Africa and the African continent.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITi. Governance and Democracy
Projects undertaken 2010/2011:
The Role of South Africa in African Continental Integration
Assessing the AU Industrialization Plan Through A Linear Model: In the Case of Mineral Industrialization
Results:3 journal articles, 5 policy briefs and presentations at national and international conferences/seminars. Unit briefed various government organizations on transformation of the PAP and Zimbabwe political impasse. Two interns were capacitated by the unit.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITii. Peace and Security
Seeks to promote Africa’s Peace and Security Agenda, in view of the continent’s aspirations to create stable, peaceful and enabling environments for sustainable development. Focus is on: Promotion of democratic processes for conflict prevention and management; Conflict prevention, management and resolution mechanisms at national, regional, continental and international levels; Migration and security; Crime and human insecurity and its impact on regional integration; and Management of trans-border resources and implications for regional security.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITii. Peace and Security
Projects undertaken 2010/2011:Central Africa’s evolving natural resource management paradigm: The case of the Congo Basin Rainforest and implications for Peace and Security in the Sub regionThe nexus of social capital and national reconciliation in Burundi and its implications for human security in the Great Lakes region.Results:4 journal articles, 6 policy briefs, book chapter in the Nile River book project and presentations at national and international conferences/seminars. Unit gave lectures at the SANDF and SAN War Colleges on Multi-lateral Organizations: The African Union and Regional Security.One intern was capacitated from this unit.
iii. Sustainable Development
In line with Africa’s commitment to promote people’s empowerment as a basis for its development, this unit promotes grassroots driven, equitable and inclusive use and management of resources (both renewable and non-renewable) with a focus on: Development of common standards for the access, exploitation, management and sustainable use of all resources; Monitoring performance in terms of commitments to empowerment e.g. Millennium Development Goals; Indigenous knowledge systems and appropriate technologies for beneficiation processes; Options for the empowerment of critical actors in development in particular the youth and women, and Examination and development of proposals for poverty intervention strategies.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITiii. Sustainable Development
Projects undertaken:
Informal trading networks: a ‘loose canon”, or circuits of integration from below? The case of Cameroon/Nigeria informal trade interfaceIndigenous rights and the influence of the new Kenyan constitution on Indigenous development.
Results:4 journal articles, 4 policy briefs and presentations at national and international conferences/seminars. Policy briefs on Mubarak and Indigenous People of Lamu District, Kenya attracted attention from DIRCO, Egyptian and Kenyan embassies.One intern was capacitated by this unit.
iv. Science and Technology
AISA seeks to spearhead work towards the development and advancement of Africa’s science and technological platforms as a basis for the pursuit of its common aspiration for sustainable development through: Supporting processes towards harmonization of regulations that promote the application and safe use of technology; and promotion of the development of centres of excellence in science and technology; Promoting the development of frameworks that protect intellectual property in Africa, particularly the Pan African Organisation of Intellectual Property; Facilitating frameworks for technology sharing, transfer and adaptation among and across African countries, and Monitoring the implementation of Science and Technology plans by the relevant ministries and departments.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITiv. Science and Technology
Projects Undertaken 2010/2011 :
Determining Africa’s future energy needs, production, demand and investment requirements through system dynamics.The value of spatial based-analytical tools (GIS and Remote Sensing) in understanding the impacts of the agrarian reform on food security in the SADC region. Special focus on South Africa and Zimbabwe.AISA/Standard Bank Seminar Series projects.
Results: 4 journal articles, 5 policy briefs and presentations at national and international conferences/seminars.Unit concentrated on the Energy Transition in Africa book project with the target of having it published for 2011 COP 17 together with the IGD and UNISA book projects.One intern was capacitated by this unit.
RESEARCH THEMATIC UNITv. Knowledge Transfer and Skills Development
Focus was on:Internal AISA Flagship projectsInternship ProgrammeFellowship ProgrammeAISA Young Graduates ScholarsAISA Campus Lecture SeriesSA Campus Lecture SeriesArchie Mafeje Memorial LectureScramble for Africa Conference
Results:7 interns mentored and 7articles published , 4 Fellows appointed, 61 participated at AYGS Conference, 505 attended seminars delivered at 5 universities, 71 attended the Archie Mafeje Memorial lecture held at WSU and a successful international conference on Scramble for Africa held in Pretoria.
Special Projects and Initiatives
Electoral monitoring project (Sudan Referendum) Women and Defence ( financially supported conferences organised by DoD) Support to SADC Armed Forces ( Lectures at SAND and SAN War Colleges ) North Africa Project ( organised conference and reviewed book chapters) Nile River Project (organised conference and reviewed book chapters) The Standard Bank Project (Conducted Seminars being collated for publication in
2011) Social Science Research Council (SSRC) [HIV/AIDS Book Published ] AISA Autobiography Growing partnerships (Worked closely with DIRCO, DST, NRF, HSRC, AU, SADC, IGD) Russian Academy of African Affairs at AISA (Signed MoU) Other research-related activities Research Seminars (Within and outside AISA) Engagement with the Media (Radio, TV and Print) Capacity Building (7 interns mentored)
Introduction
The Publications Division is a conduit through which AISA’s research outputs are disseminated. However it needs to be noted that the division not only publishes internally generated research outputs but those from external stakeholders as well.
The Publications Division publishes books, monographs, policy briefs, occasional papers, as well as an International Bibliography of Social Sciences (IBSS) listing and the South African Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) accredited journal, Africa Insight.
Although the majority of what the division publishes is internally generated, it also publishes commissioned and unsolicited journal articles, books, occasional papers and monographs from other researchers from various South African and African universities and from the Diaspora. We also co-publish with other like-minded research institutions such as the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), South Africa.
Publications
Figure 1 shows the titles published by the division in the reporting year 2010/2011.
Publications Outputs
Publications ResultsRepresentation at local and international conferences, book fairs and colloquiums
including:
Cape Town Book Fair (CTBF) Standing Conference of University Presidents at the University of South Africa
(UNISA) Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Literacy Week Launch of the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI) in Sandton,
Johannesburg South African Society of Education (SASE) conference at the University of Venda MAP Africa conference at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town Annual DIRCO conference in Tshwane Taylor & Francis Editors’ Indaba in Rosebank, Johannesburg African Studies Association of the United Kingdom’s biannual conference in Oxford,
UK.
Publications Results
In conjunction with its research counterpart, held a colloquium in Nairobi, Kenya on ‘Co-operative Diplomacy, Regional Stability and National Interests: The Nile River and the Riparian States’ the proceedings of which have been published as a book.
Apart from conferences, book fairs and colloquiums, Publications attended a number of seminars and book launches during which AISA’s research outputs were showcased.
We achieved our strategic objective of forging links with like-minded research Institutes in areas such as co-publishing by entering into a collaborative initiative with the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), which resulted in a joint publication entitled, Natural resource governance in Southern Africa by Emmanuel Kisiangani and Lesley Masters (eds).
The division capacitated 2 interns.
Library and Documentation Services (LDS)
Expanding Library Holdings Books : Added 251 ordered books to 67,158 books : Total of 67,409 books
( this total include the Pierre Botha collection and Mikelle Antoine collection). Journals : Added 884 direct subscription journals to 18,494 journals : Total of
19,378 journals. Ready reference collection : Added 32 annuals to 4644 annuals : Total of
4676 books. Exchanges : Added 530 exchanges ( 120 books; 369 journals; 21 discussion
papers; 10 newsletters; 6 bulletins; 4 annual reports) Gifts : Added 85 gifts (41 books; 42 journals; 2 annual reports) Archives : The archives stands at 4706 individual volumes. The total library collection stands on 96, 784 volumes. Shows an increase of
1,782 volumes from 95,002 in 2009/10.
Library and Documentation Services (LDS)
Providing Efficient and Effective Services to Clients
Users were divided into the following percentages : AISA : 65.85% Academics : 7.2% Corporates : 1.03% Individuals : 5.92% Students : 5.15% Government : 12.8% Embassy : 0.25% Other : 1.8% AISA’s own researchers made up 66% of the enquiries and outside clients
made up 34% of the enquiries.
Library and Documentation Services (LDS)
Creating an increased awareness of AISA mandate, products and services
Seminars Records Management seminar on the 29th March 2011, where record practitioners
shared information about good standards and practices on records management.
Workshop 20 library students from the University of Limpopo on the 7th October 2010. LDS staff
did presentations on the LDS in general, a practical session on how cataloguing is done in LDS and a presentation on how the periodicals section functions. The students thus gained hands-on training on library science and information practices.
Library and Documentation Services (LDS)
Creating an increased awareness of AISA mandate, products and services
Geo-Portal launch : The AISA geo-portal was launched on the 13th October 2010. The interface shows 28 themes for all African countries and is updated on an ongoing basis.
AGIRN (Africa Geo Info Research Network) project : AISA, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and EIS agreed on compiling the AGIRN portal and AISA portal to ensure maximum dissemination and marketing.
School outreach : Outreach was done in the Eastern Cape (30 schools), Limpopo (102 schools) and KwaZulu-Natal (107 schools). A total of 209 schools were reached. This is an increase of 88 schools compared to the 121 visited in 2009/10.
Library and Documentation Services (LDS)
Maps Collection
A list of 1047 commercially bought maps and inherited maps from other libraries was captured in separate Word documents according to country from A-Z.
Information includes the kind of map, scale and date published.
A total of 3448 maps have been captured during this period.
Corporate Affairs, Outreach and International Liaison (OIL)
Corporate Affairs and OIL are responsible for all stakeholder and media relations, events, branding, marketing, communications and reputation building of the Institute as well governance and compliance issues.
Ambassadorial ForumAISA’s flagship project undertaken in partnership with the City of Tshwane generated keen interest in African affairs during the period with the hosting of 7 events:Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for AfricaSudan’s decisions and implications: The elections and the referendumRussia investments in Southern AfricaNigeria@50: Trends, issues and optionsInaugural Africa Expo Launch ExpoInvestment opportunities in RwandaSouth Sudan referendum and South Africa’s role in taking the process forward
Corporate Affairs, Outreach and International Liaison (OIL)
Conferences Professor Bernard M Magubane at 80: The celebration of a life AISA Young Graduates and Scholars Conference
Workshop Aligning diplomacy to the SADC development Agenda AISA Campus Lecture SeriesUniversity of LimpopoUniversity of VendaUniversity of ZululandThe Archie Mafeje memorial lecture – Walter Sisulu University
Corporate Affairs, Outreach and International Liaison (OIL)
Seminars
Kaduna come down: Intricacies of informal entrepreneurs along the Cameroon/Nigeria borderCentral Africa’s evolving natural resource management paradigm: The case of the Congo Basin RainforestTechnology Intervention as a means of meeting development needs for Africa with special reference to Remote Sensing and GIS and the launch of the AISA Geo-portalRobbers or rebels? – Understanding the role of greed and grievance in fragile societiesThe politics of indigenous rights in KenyaTaking a preventative approach towards Records Management and ensuring Compliance acroscs different locationsThe challenges of industrialisation and infrastructure development in SADC and the continent
Corporate Affairs, Outreach and International Liaison (OIL)
PartnershipsAISA maintained its policy of pursuing partnerships in support of regional integration and the development of knowledge based economies in Africa.
Key AISA Partnerships include:Department of International Relations and CooperationEbukhosini SolutionsInformation Decision Support CentreTshwane University of TechnologyNorth-South CentreHuman Sciences Research Council (HSRC)City of TshwaneAfrica Expo in partnership with Enov8 New Media.
Business Environment Analyses
External Factors Affecting the Business of AISA
Competition from other organizations focusing on Africa, both in RSA and globally, e.g. universities, research consultancies and non-governmental organizations;
The necessity to create varied sources of funding to augment the parliamentary grant
Business Environment Analyses
Identified Internal Factors Affecting the Business of AISA
Lack of attractiveness of AISA as an employer as portrayed by the high staff attrition rate and difficulty in attracting quality researchers;
Non-competitive remuneration;
Management challenges.
Proposed Solutions to AISA Challenges
Delineate AISA’s niche as dictated by its legislative mandate and location within the DST;
Identify and partner with other similar research and governmental organizations in order to have a better impact;
Develop a clear communication and marketing strategy that will ensure that AISA’s products and services are visible and attractive to all its stakeholders and widely accessible to policy-makers and decision-makers; and
Implement recommendations cited in the 2010 Institutional Review relating to improving research capacity, funding from government, co-operation with like-minded institutions and good management.
Human Resources
The AISA Invested 55% of the MTEF allocation to our labour cost (including statutory skills-levy contributions and Interns)
We developed 8 interns and received 3 interns from NRF during the period.
Over and above 1 % of this was invested in the training and development of our staff.
Employment Targets Set vs. Actual as at 31 March 2011
Division Target Actual Variance Interns/ Fellows
Total
Research 16 13 3 4 17
Library and Documentation Services
9 8 1 1 9
Publications 5 4 1 1 5
CEO/ OIL/ CA 6 6 0 1 7
Corporate Affairs(HR, FIN & Research Admin)
21 20 1 2 22
Total 57 51 6 9 60
Employee Age Distribution as at 31 March 2010
Employee age distribution as at 31 March 2011
Female 7 12% 18 32% 5 9%
Male 7 12% 13 23% 7 12%
Total 14 24% 31 55% 12 21%
AISA Scientific Qualifications
Quality of Scientific Capacity as at 31 March 2011
Staff Qualification Number Race Gender
South African/Non-
South African
Current Percentage
Previous Year
Research staff with PhD Degrees 9
7 Blacks 1 White 1 Coloured
7 Male 2 Female
7 South African 2 Non South African 64% 64%
Research staff with Masters degrees 5 5 Blacks
3 Male 2 Female
3 South African 2 Non South African 36 % 36%
Staff enrolled for Masters or PhD degrees 2 1 Black 2 Male
1 South African 1 Non South African 14% 14%
Finance : Strategic objectives
Finance, Administration and Information Technology Division focused on the following strategic objectives during the 2010/2011 financial year:
• Improve the control environment and comply with all relevant legislation
• Achieve financial management excellence through efficient and effective controls and processes;
• Liaise with, and correct all, control environment deficiencies identified by the auditors;
• Effective management and the safeguarding of assets;• Review and update policies on an annual basis and• Improve business efficiencies.• Ensure that AISA’s budget is utilised effectively in pursuance of its
mandate
Finance : Strategic objectives (Cont.)
• Discuss budgeting inputs to the strategic and annual performance plans to encourage transparent alignment of budgetary and planning processes and divisional ownership of budgets;
• Allocate proportional costs to all divisions to ensure that they remain cognisant of all operational expenditures;
• Honor lease agreements, infrastructure expenses and basic utility services;
• Maintain the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure;
• Revise budget and submit the revised budget; and• Monitor income and expenditure against the budget.• Manage the Institute’s cash flow to facilitate operations
Finance : Strategic objectives (Cont.)
• Manage cash movement to provide greater accuracy in cash flow projections to maximise revenue.
• Increase revenue to AISA to augment the grant received by government
• Increase revenue by effectively managing cash flow and asset disposal; and
• Manage the grant allocation from the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Risk management• Assess and mitigate the impact of the top risks across AISA; and• Ensure that AISA’s insurance policy is adequate and covers all
assets and possible liabilities.
The focus areas of strategic objectives
Audit Opinions Expressed over the last 5 years
Audit Opinions received
2010/11 Unqualified and Clean
2009/10 Unqualified
2008/09 Unqualified
2007/08 Qualified
2006/07 Disclaimer
Financial Performance
AISA ended the financial year with an deficit of (R4,587) million (Deficit R3,733: 2009/10 - Restated). The deficit derived as a result of the de-recognition of the pension fund surplus when the fund was converted from a defined benefit to a defined contribution fund. The over expenditure in terms of General and Administrative expenditure resulted from the inventory write-down and depreciation adjustments.
Although AISA ended the 2010/11 financial year with an accumulated surplus, it must be emphasized that the financial statements have been prepared on an accrual basis of accounting and are in accordance with historical cost convention which differs from cash basis of accounting.
Included in the accumulated surplus is committed projects to the amount of R1,081 million as per note 25 (P115) stated in the annual financial statements that was not expensed at year end. The remaining R5,502 million also includes ring-fenced funds to the amount of R2,323 (note 9 page 110).
Financial Performance (Cont.)
It must be noted that contingent liabilities are not included and could further impact the accumulated surplus negatively.
Total income generated for the 2010/11 financial year amounted to R32,669 million (R30,684 million : 2010/11).
93,6% (95,4% : 2010/11) of Total Income generated, comprised of the grant received from the Department of Science and Technology.
Total expenditure amounted to R37,256 million (R33,114: 2010/11). 55% (49% : 2009/10) of the expenditures incurred refers to employee related costs.
Non-current assets decreased from R7,716 million to R4,064 million. The decrease is as a result the decrease in asset value of equipment, furniture and intangibles.
Financial Performance (Cont.)
Current assets decreased from R7,932 million to R5,704 million. The decrease can be attributed to a decrease in trade and other receivables and inventory value at year end.
Non-current liabilities decreased from R5,559 million to R4,266 million from the prior year. The decrease refers to a decrease of R1,598 million in provisions.
Trade and other payables increased from R1,929 million to R2,381 million at year end.
AISA was solvent at year end with total assets less current liabilities at R5,502 million. In terms of liquidity, the Institution is liquid with the current ratio at 2,3 : 1 which means that for every R1 of current liabilities the entity has R2,29 of assets to cover its liabilities.
AISA managed through improved monitoring to reduce the accumulated surplus from R13,282 (2008/9) million to R11,392 million (2009/10) and R5,501.
Budget utilisation
AISA managed to utilise their budget more effectively and efficiently during the 2010/11 financial year. Although the objective was to reach a break-even financial scenario at year end, AISA ended its financial year with a deficit of (R4,587) million.
Although income generated reflects a 5% variance on the overall actuals, it must be noted that income to the amount of R1,081 million (R1,167 : 2009/10) was carried forward for committed projects not completed at year end. (See note 25).
Expenditure reflects a 12% variance. This can be attributed to employee-related costs with regard to the de-recognition of the pension fund surplus at year end.
The overall variance in budget reflected is 13% .
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