Audit results on technological initiatives for rural development: evidence from eight comprehensive rural development programme pilot sites

The Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) is Strategic Priority Number 3 within the governments current Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). The South African Government conceptualised the CRDP in 2009, within months of the April elections of that year. The design of the programme has common features but is also said to be iterative, based upon lessons learned from eight selected pilot sites through socio-economic profiling, community participatory processes and intergovernmental cooperation. It is considered different from previous government initiatives in rural areas because it is based on proactive and participatory community-based planning (DRDLR 2009d). A key thrust of the programmers framework is an integrated programme of rural development, land reform and agrarian change.