The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) is intended to drive integration at the local scale, yet it has struggled to give effect to the whole-of-government and all-of-society based implementation at local government level. Experience and known local government evaluative insight has long shown that there are gaps in the IDP production process with enough of a sense of the apathy with which IDPs have been received in municipalities. IDPs continue to be compliance driven with little sector participation and they have been limited in the extent to which they inform investment and development in municipal areas.

The Metro-specific Guidelines concentrates on the material required for a credible IDP, with important guidance for ensuring a sound process for compiling the IDP.

The practice note captures the project method, approach, outcomes, strengths, challenges, and lessons from the assignment to review and develop a set of Metro-specific Integrated Development Plan Guidelines. The project was commissioned by the South African Cities Network (SACN), the National Treasury: Cities Support Programme (CSP), the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG), Palmer Development Group (PDG) and city stakeholders.

Through reflection on the process of the assignment, the practice note looks to inform and enable change to the practice of intergovernmental cooperation. The note is for presentation to the SACN project manager and team.