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

Formulate and evaluate public sector policies and regulations 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
120301  Formulate and evaluate public sector policies and regulations 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Administration 
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-Fundamental  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  8 
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 will be useful to learners working within a Public Sector environment or for a non-profit organisation, specialising in Public Management and Administration. The knowledge and skills will enable learners to develop competence of critical thinking about public policy issues and act formulation. It will enable learners to conduct policy analysis irrespective of the policy area. This Unit Standard will also be useful to public officials for public managers and administration specialist.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Identifying and explaining the role of government frameworks and institutions in formulating policies and regulations
  • Identifying and interpreting public policy issues and problems and relating them to policy imperatives of the country
  • Conducting policy design through evaluation of different policy alternatives
  • Applying basic cost-benefit analysis techniques to evaluate different policy alternatives
  • Applying ethical principles to policy design and analysis 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    It is assumed that learners are competent in:
  • Communication at NQF Level 4.
  • Mathematical Literacy at NQF Level 4.

    It is also recommended that learners are competent in Computer Skills and Economics at NQF level 4 or equivalent. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    N/A 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Identify and explain the role of government frameworks and institutions in formulating regulations and policies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The role of parliament is explained in relation to formulating public sector acts and policies. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The role of the executive is explained outling the specific responsibilities. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The functioning of government is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The different spheres of government are identified and their levels of interaction and cooperation for service delivery are explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The tools and processes that government use to design and implement acts and policies are identified and described with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The process for formulating, submitting, promulgating and implementing acts within the public sector is explained in relation to the public sector manager's role. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 7 
    The process for designing and implementing public sector policies is explained as it relates to the various acts that are promulgated. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Identify and interpret public policy issues and problems and relate them to policy imperatives of the country. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The steps used to make public policy are identified and explained with respect to public policy formulation in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Different communication strategies for communicating results of a policy analysis process are used to show the link between public policy and economic policy dichotomy. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Selected policy issues are identified and reviewed to indicate their origin and resource requirements for their implementation. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The concept of economic efficiency is applied to verify, define and detail policy problems. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Policy problems are discussed and ways outlined to achieve desirable outcomes. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Conduct policy design through evaluation of different policy alternatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different criterion are selected and used to evaluate policy alternatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Criteria is defined and used to evaluate generic policy instruments in South Africa. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Policy alternatives are evaluated with reference to specific policy problems and results presented. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Policy alternatives include but are not limited to equity criteria, economic efficiency criteria, fairness and justice, market failures vs government failures.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Apply basic cost-benefit analysis techniques to evaluate different policy alternatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different categories of costs and benefits are identified and considered in evaluation of specific policy options. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Qualitative variables are used in conjunction with costs to make policy recommendations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Techniques for financial decision-making are selected and used to evaluate different policy alternatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Individuals, organisations, and other factors that act to impede effective implementation of selected policy options are identified with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Steps required to increase the possibility of effective implementation of selected policy options are identified and described in reports prepared to guide management. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Apply ethical principles to policy design and analysis. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Different ethical principles and concepts are applied in the design and analysis of public policy instruments. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Tensions between positive and normative analysis are used to understand policy implementation issues. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The difficulties of quantifying preferences and values in policy choices are appreciated and considered in evaluating policy alternatives. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Tension between individual and collective choices is explained with reference to alternative approaches to policy analysis and design. 


    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 learner must demonstrate an understanding of:
  • National, provincial and local government processes and structure
  • The process of promulgating an act
  • The public sector manager's role in act formulation
  • Generic public policy instruments
  • Relevant legislation
  • Policy determination
  • Operational policy implementation
  • Techniques of financial analysis and decision-making
  • Basic environmental scanning techniques
  • Methods for communicating research findings
  • Situational and stakeholder identification 
    		•

    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 diagnose and identify basic public policy issues and problems. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community to ensure that public policy is based on stakeholder interests and current trends. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively in order to ensure that policy design is effectively and proactively completed. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate facts relating to public sector policies. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and/or language in the modes of oral and/or written persuasion to communicate policy decision-making. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility to the environment and health of others to ensure that information pertaining to policies are effectively extracted and utilised in overall policy design. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of interrelated systems by recognising that policy design contexts within the public sector not exist in isolation. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Participate as responsible citizens in the life of local, national and global communities by ensuring that public sector policy is ethical and sound. 

    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 
    Articulation possibilities:

    This unit standard will enable a learner to articulate to other qualifications in Financial Management, Financial Services, Business Administration, Public Finance Management and Administration, Municipal Finance Management and Administration, Leadership. 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  50060   National Certificate: Public Administration  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  PSETA 
    Elective  63369   National Diploma: Trade Union Practice  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  ETDP SETA 


    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.