Research Advisory Committee (RAC)

In early 2010, GCRO constituted a Research Advisory Committee (RAC) comprising senior academics from universities across the city-region, and some representatives from government, the private sector and civil society.

The role of the RAC is to:
(a) help develop a research agenda for the GCR;
(b) provide a forward-looking perspective on policy issues and research; and
(c) help develop relationships between key academic researchers and their counterparts in government.

2012

The first RAC meeting for 2012 was held on 1 March and considered the proposed GCRO 2012/2013 workplan, as well as a presentation on the mandate and functioning of the RAC.

Sally Peberdy and Maryna Storie reviewed documents and minutes relating to the roles, membership and structure of the RAC, and on the basis of this prepared a power-point for the RAC meeting of 1 March, and a proposal for the GCRO Board meeting of 29 March 2012.

2011

Four meetings of the RAC were held in 2011.

The first meeting of the RAC for 2011 took place on 17 March. The agenda focused on the findings and recommendations of the OECD’s Gauteng Territorial Review.

The second meeting of 2011 was on 11 May, and focused on the GCRO’s three year strategic plan.

The third RAC for 2011 was on 24 July. The agenda focused on the results of the 50-priority ward project and the Green Strategic Programme for Gauteng.

The fourth meeting of the RAC was held on 1 December 2011. Two RAC members, both members of the National Planning Commission, presented on the NPC’s diagnostic and spatial aspects of its national vision and plan.

2010

Five meetings of the RAC were held in 2010.

In the first meeting the RAC heard and discussed a presentation on Gauteng's draft long-term G2055 strategy. It also considered a brief progress report on GCRO’s work.

In the second meeting the RAC heard a presentation by Aromar Revi, from the Indian Institute of Human Settlements, on India’s long term perspective on its urban transition, as well as reflections on the implications for South Africa by Edgar Pieterse. It also briefly discussed GCRO’s planned work for 2010/11.

In the third meeting the RAC broke into groups and discussed how they would imagine a “sophisticated, Afropolitan, futuristic Gauteng City-Region”.

In the fourth meeting the RAC heard a presentation from the HSRC on R&D spending and innovation in Gauteng, leading into a discussion on how to build a Regional Innovation System in the province. It also considered a presentation on the challenge of Acid Mine Drainage affecting Gauteng.

In the fifth meeting, the RAC gave useful input into the GCRO’s 2011/12 to 2013/14 three-year strategic framework.