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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
242907  Conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Public Administration and Management 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Public Administration 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  20 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended for elected political leaders and public sector officials involved with the service delivery activities at a top strategic level. This course integrates theoretical and analytical approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of public policies and programs. Various methods based on different evaluative criteria are employed to assess how the use of policy tools influence policy design, implementation, and evaluation.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Demonstrating an understanding of and apply theories and concepts that apply to policy design, implementation and evaluation.
  • Demonstrating an understanding of and apply policy design success factors.
  • Applying needs assessment in effective policy design.
  • Demonstrating a knowledge of and apply impact evaluation in the context of policy design, implementation and monitoring.
  • Displaying an understanding of the monitoring of program process and performance.
  • Displaying an understand of the implementation of public policy interventions.
  • Displaying an understanding of the planning and managing of policy research projects. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    All learners accessing this unit standard must be in possession of Level 6 Public Administration diploma, degree or equivalent. The learner must also be competent in Economics at Level 6. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate an understanding of and apply theories and concepts that apply to policy design, implementation and evaluation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The purpose and history of policy design, implementation and evaluation in the public sector context is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Factors that policy makers need to know to ensure effective policy design are identified and explained with examples in relation to current policy design requirements and existing frameworks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Types of research questions and problems relating to current policy design needs are discussed in the context of current public sector objectives, trends and strategies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Methods and tools for conceptualising policy design are discussed with examples. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Methods and tools include but are not limited to abstract thinking, causality, logic models, operationalisation, literature reviews.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Methods for practicing, orienting and structuring policy and programme evaluation research are identified and integrated into policy design. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Practicing, orienting, and structuring Program evaluation research include, but are not limited to, the purpose and history of program design, implementation, evaluation, differences between program evaluation and social science research, program monitoring, impact evaluation, process evaluation, Types of research questions/problems, what policy makers need to know.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Demonstrate an understanding of and apply policy design success factors. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The relationship between policy failure and policy design is understood and discussed with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The elements of effective design are understood and incorporated into own policy design project. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Elements of effective designs include, but are not limited to, structural logic and behavioural assumptions.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Contexts for, and patterns in, policy design decision-making are understood and described in relation to own public sector context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Policy design literature and resources are analysed and discussed in the context of the current policy design debate. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Apply needs assessment in effective policy design. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The role of evaluators in conducting policy needs assessment is understood and described for typical policy review projects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of defining social problems are understood and described in the context of policy needs assessment applications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The boundaries and targets of policy intervention are specified in the context of policy needs assessment applications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The nature of service needs are described in the context of policy needs assessment applications. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The social context of program evaluation is understood and described in relation to current and future policy requirements. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Social context includes, but is not limited to, the utilisation of evaluation results and common problems.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Demonstrate knowledge of and apply impact evaluation in the context of policy design, implementation and monitoring. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Data use is understood and applied for impact evaluation purposes. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Uses include, but are not limited to, data collection techniques and sources, data measurement, quality, errors, and data analysis.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The design of impact evaluation is understood and applied in policy impact evaluation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Design includes, but is not limited to, randomised or experimental designs, non-randomized designs (quasi-experimental), reflexive and meta designs.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The requirement for assessing the reliability and validity of impact evaluation are understood and applied to own public sector policy contexts. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Policy impact evaluation literature and resources are analysed and discussed in the context of the current policy evaluation debate. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Display an understanding of the monitoring of program process and performance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Program monitoring is understood and defined in the context of typical public sector programmes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Monitoring service utilisation, organisation functions and program outcomes are understood and described in relation to policy benchmarks. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The methods collecting data for monitoring purposes is understood and applied to own public sector programmes. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Methods and techniques of data analysis are applied to monitoring data. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 6 
    Display an understand of the implementation of public policy interventions. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Conceptual models/lenses used in public policy administration are assessed in line with their uses. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The limits to successful public policy implementation, and the reasons why public policy implantations fail are understood and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Implementation as a function of program design is understood and explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Methods of improving the implementation performance of public sector programmes are identified and applied to future and existing programmes. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 7 
    Display an understanding of the planning and managing of policy research projects. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The planning process of public research projects is described in line overall public sector programme objectives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The elements of public research projects are understood and applied to the process of project planning. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Planning elements include, but are not limited to, project requirements, tasks, budgets, and approval.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The process of managing public research projects is applied in own public sector context. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The elements of public research projects are understood and applied to the process of project management. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Management elements include, but are not limited to, project teams, stakeholders, expenditures, conflicts, reports, completion.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Any individual wishing to be assessed (including through RPL) against this unit standard may apply to an assessment agency, assessor or provider institution accredited by the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard or assessing this unit standard must be accredited as a provider with the relevant ETQA, or an ETQA that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the relevant ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be conducted by the relevant ETQA at its discretion. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • The Public Services Act.
  • The Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Structures Act.
  • The Promotion of Administrative Justice Act.
  • The Promotion of Access the Information Act.
  • The Batho-Pele White Paper on Transforming Public Sector Service Delivery.
  • Public Sector Corporate Governance policies and procedures.
  • Public Finance Management act.
  • Policy analysis and design.
  • Concepts and models relating to public sector policy and programme design.
  • Design, implementation and evaluation techniques relating to policy and programme design.
  • Impact evaluation methods and techniques.
  • Monitoring methods and techniques.
  • Policy planning and implementation techniques and methods.
  • Policy research tools. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems using critical and creative thinking processes to conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly in order to conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information in order to conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to effectively implement and gain buy-in to public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others, as a tool to conceptualise, design, implement and monitor public policies and programmes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that problem solving contexts relating the public service policy design and implementation do not exist in isolation and that a variety of factors, sensitivities, stakeholders and politics may impact on overall efficacy thereof. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
  • Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that public policies and programmes benefit the wider public.
  • Be culturally and aesthetically sensitive across a range of contexts when conceptualising, designing, implementing and monitoring public policies and programmes. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57827   National Diploma: Public Administration  Level 7  Level N/A: Pre-2009 was L7  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.