N2 Wild Coast Toll Road development
Empowering rural communities with the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road development.
The N2 Wild Coast Toll Road development project falls within the Ingquza Hill Local Municipal area of the OR Tambo Municipal District in the Eastern Cape. It is focused on villages along package 4 of the N2 road, adjacent to Lusikisiki, between the Lingeni intersection and the Msikaba Bridge.
Zutari was appointed by SANRAL to carry out the design and oversee the construction of the national route and associated access roads in Package 4 of the 7-package N2 Wild Coast Road development.
The N2 Wild Coast Road (N2WCTR) is a multi-billion-rand road infrastructure project and is hugely significant for the economy of the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. As a Strategic Infrastructure Project (SIP), it promoted development in the South-East Node and Corridor (SIP3). It is aligned with the National Development Plan.
The road construction project has generated a significant amount of direct and indirect job opportunities, which has given a much-needed boost to the local economy. However, the job creation could not fully address the needs and aspirations of job seekers in the area. To address unemployment, which is one of the main drivers for community action against projects on the Wild Coast, SANRAL collaborated with Zutari to create a Legacy Programme that aims to maximize the long-term impact of the project. Zutari then partnered with Africa!Ignite and Wild Coast Foods to implement the SANRAL Legacy Programme, which is focused on empowering communities in the vicinity of package 4.
The project transcends the discrete road development project and provides a mechanism for the sustainable empowerment of vulnerable communities, long after the road has been completed.
The project transcends the discrete road development project and provides a mechanism for the sustainable empowerment of vulnerable communities, long after the road has been completed.
14 communities were assisted in creating sustainable businesses.
The Legacy Programme had five phases. The first two were funded by SANRAL and involved assisting 14 communities to create sustainable businesses. In the third phase, sustainable funding was secured for more projects. Phase 4 involved the disbursement of funding to communities and businesses. Zutari gradually decreased its support during Phase 4 to ensure sustainability and responsible exit in Phase 5.
The uniqueness of the project
The SANRAL N2 Project and its Legacy Programme are a great example of collaboration between civil engineering projects and the communities they affect. By involving the community in the project planning, risks associated with the project were significantly reduced. Furthermore, the Programme expanded the positive impact of the new road infrastructure on the surrounding communities and economies. It empowered communities to take advantage of the opportunities that came with the new road, and in doing so, addressed the longstanding issue of unemployment in a cost-effective, sustainable, and community-driven way.
Scalability was another feature that made the project unique. The Legacy Programme facilitated the creation of an integrated model that is adaptable and replicable, enabling sustainable tourism and economic growth in rural communities. One of the primary objectives of the model is to ensure that previously excluded communities have a greater participation in the tourism economy.
Connecting differently
Zutari’s all-female, multi-disciplinary team of advisors and engineers connected across traditional boundaries and geographies to maximise the impact of this iconic development. They connected with clients, partners, and stakeholders to magnify the project’s impact.
Zutari led a collaborative effort to implement Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders and partners. This team included members from existing SANRAL community engagement structures such as the Project Liaison Committee (PLC) and Project Liaison Officer (PLO), as well as representatives from the Ingquza Hill Local Municipality, community leaders from two chiefdoms, a Community Champion from each village, and various funders and partners A special Unit (SU) responsible for developing the Comprehensive Development Framework was created to support communities.
Two Business Development Support Centers (BDSCs) were created in Vellem and Lambasi villages. These WowBiz centres provide a one-stop-shop for the communities to register businesses, get business development support, advertise their businesses, and gain support with development funding applications. Each centre provides at least two permanent job positions for WowBiz Managers, trained to help local youths and stakeholders. WowBiz centres build capacity for local stakeholders to benefit from development opportunities.
These stakeholders all worked together to implement Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) to shift community mindsets from employment to entrepreneurship – stimulating active citizenship and empowering communities to take charge of their development.
“Overall, SANRAL cannot speak highly enough about Zutari and Africa!Ignite and their contributions to this vital national strategic project. We are confident that they will continue to excel in any future endeavours they pursue. We wholeheartedly recommend them without reservation.” – Craig McLachlan, Lead Project Manager for SANRAL’s Southern Region.
The project is a great example of how collaboration with the communities impacted by a civil engineering project can lead to successful outcomes. Investing in proactive community development and consultation significantly reduced the risks associated with community unrest, and delays in the road development project were avoided. The community initiatives resulted in well-informed stakeholders, who provided broad support for both the Legacy Programme and the actual N2 road construction project.
This project won the Member-at-Large Award Project of the Year and was an Honourable Mention: International Project of the Year at the 2023 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Core Value Awards.
100% female multi-disciplinary team
*The Aurecon Africa business has been officially renamed Zutari as at 21 July 2020. Zutari acquired Aurecon Middle East on 20 November 2020.
