South Africa is one of the eighteen partner countries selected for Belgian development cooperation. Our cooperation mainly lies in the following three areas: land and agrarian reform, capacity building in health services and skills development for employment creation.

Land Reform

Belgium and South Africa cooperate closely on Land Reform, a program focused on the improved use of land for agrarian purposes and on a fair distribution of land ownership among the population. Land and agriculture play a crucial role in the country’s economic performance, particularly through employment and agricultural production.

For the last 10 years, Land Reform has been given special attention by the Belgian Government and about €20 million (about R200 million) have been allocated exclusively for Land Reform to the South African Government, NGO’s and Universities.
This special partnership has grown to the extent that Belgium has become South Africa’s foremost partner in Land Reform, enjoying the confidence of other partner countries who have entrusted the Belgian Technical Cooperation with the implementation of their own support programs.

Health Services

Belgium and South Africa work together to improve capacity in the health sector (how to develop skills, how to improve public service delivery, etc.)
By developing better Human Resources and high-performing management systems – both critical factors in the implementation of a viable and efficient health service – we are improving the capacity of the health sector.

Belgium also supports South Africa in its fight against tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS on a long-term basis. The pathway to allow better patient care lies in the provision of a comprehensive package of prevention, care and support at district level, considering the high level of co-infection between TB and HIV/AIDS.

South Africa Police Service

Until recently, Belgium was cooperating with the South African Police Services (SAPS), with a program focused on delivery improvement at local level. The project was designed to assist SAPS to learn from experience and to develop, test and formulate policy and implementation plans in various selected fields, such as visible policing. Visible policing implies the performance and delivery of basic policing services in a proactive and interactive manner that meets the needs of respective communities. By focusing on station level it is ensured that local communities are the direct beneficiaries of efforts aimed at the improvement of service delivery.

Skills Development

A further Belgian contribution to South Africa is the “Study and Consultancy and Transfer of Know-How Fund”. The objectives of this Fund are "to reduce poverty and inequality, and establish new avenues of cooperation between South Africa and Belgium" by enabling transfer of know-how within South Africa and between South Africa and Belgium

These programs must lead to an improved effectiveness and quality service delivery at all spheres of government and enhanced skills development in the small business and informal sector with the final aim of sustainable employment creation.

If you wish to learn more about the bilateral cooperation of Belgium and South Africa, please visit the following websites:

Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs: www.diplomatie.be
Belgian Directorate General for Development Cooperation: www.dgcd.be
Belgian technical cooperation: www.btcctb.org