On 2 October 2024, the Public Policy Hub (PPH) and the Chair in Municipal Finance in Africa proudly hosted the fourth Public Sector Economist Forum (PSEF) meeting in advance of the annual PSEF conference, which will take place at the University of Mpumalanga’s Conference Centre in Mbombela (Nelspruit) from 3 to 5 December 2024.

Since 2009, the PSEF has played a crucial role in advancing socio-economic development and enhancing service delivery within provincial governments by providing sound, relevant economic research. We were pleased to welcome its esteemed members, both in person and virtually, to explore collaboration opportunities in addressing South Africa's most urgent economic challenges.

In her welcoming address, Prof Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences (EMS), said: "The University of Pretoria (UP), is uniquely positioned to serve as a hub for innovation, research, and policy development. We are committed to equipping our students, the future economists and policymakers, with the knowledge and tools needed to make meaningful contributions, especially in South Africa.”

Prof Nara Monkam, Head of the PPH and Chair in Municipal Finance at UP, delivered a presentation on fostering collaboration between academia and provincial government economists. She emphasised aligning research priorities to drive impactful public sector reforms. “By working with the PSEF, we can identify research priorities that meet the needs of provincial governments across South Africa,” she noted, ensuring that the research is relevant and beneficial.

She further stressed the importance of strengthening relationships between academics and government economists, seeing this as essential for nurturing young scholars. “Internships and short-term student placements in the public sector provide invaluable, hands-on experience, enabling students to apply their theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges,” she emphasised. “This mutual benefit fosters both innovation and professional growth. While students gain deep insights into the complexities of the public sector, institutions benefit from the fresh perspectives and innovative approaches they bring.”

In addition, Prof Monkam proposed further integration of provincial government economists into academia by inviting them to co-author research, co-supervise students, and serve as guest lecturers. “Co-authorship between academia and the public sector enhances the quality and relevance of research, making it both academically rigorous and practically applicable to real-world public sector challenges,” she explained. “Co-supervision allows diverse perspectives to enrich the student's learning experience, while guest lecturing ensures public sector experts can shape the next generation's understanding of governance and public finance,” she concluded.

Lennard van Vuren, Chairperson of the PSEF, expressed gratitude to Prof Monkam for her insightful presentation on the PPH’s work. He highlighted the strong alignment between the PPH’s initiatives and the PSEF’s objectives, particularly in fostering collaborative solutions to shared challenges. Van Vuren also emphasised the PSEF’s commitment to developing a new generation of provincial economists and strengthening partnerships with scholars. “We will actively promote the important work of the PPH across our provincial departments to create collaboration opportunities that address pressing societal challenges,” he concluded.

The PPH is committed to strengthening and expanding its collaboration with the PSEF to gain deeper insights into the challenges and priorities of local and provincial governments in South Africa. By fostering research-driven initiatives and promoting evidence-based policies, the PPH aims to empower municipalities and provinces with practical solutions to address critical societal challenges effectively.