Macroeconomic analysis, sector reviews and other areas of technical advice

Case study of franchise financing project (The Jobs Fund, 2015/16): The Jobs Fund identified the need to gain a deeper understanding of the co-funded project providing finance for the establishment of franchisee businesses in South Africa. Specifically, the study seeked to: understand whether the project intervention (both financial and non-financial) lowers the risk to franchisees; determine the opportunities, challenges, and unintended consequences associated with the project's intervention and business model; assess whether the project is additional to commercial funding or is crowding out other sources of franchise funding; and understand what impact the finance and training provided through the project has had on the success of new small businesses.
The study followed a qualitative case study approach, utilising input from beneficiaries of and stakeholders in the project.

Development of costing tool (Coega Development Corporation, 2015): Developed an updated costing tool to help the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) better assess their funding requirements, constraints and viability under different scenarios of sustainability.

Millennium Development Goals - South Africa's progress towards Goal 8 (Statistics South Africa, 2015 / 2013 / 2010): Assisted Statistics SA in writing up a sectoral report on Goal 8 for the Millennium Development Goals Report (2010, 2013 and 2015) (South Africa). This involved reporting on South Africa's progress towards its goals within the context of other national indicators and targets, in line with global MDG standards and principles. The 2015 MDG report also focused on the transition to the Sustainable Development Goals post-2015.

The vulnerability of West African countries to the Ebola viral disease (Standard Bank, 2014): DNA Economics undertook research to assist the client in better understanding the likely channels of impact that the Ebola virus will have on economies in the West African region. The research report also aimed to identify the greatest risk to the Bank in terms of both countries and sectors. The report focused on answering a number of specific questions, including:
1. What are the channels through which an infectious disease such as Ebola affects a country’s economy?
2. What country specific factors increase vulnerability to the economic impacts of the Ebola virus?
3. What countries in West Africa are specifically vulnerable to the economic effects of the Ebola virus?
4. What specific sectors or industries in those countries of particular interest to Standard Bank are at greatest risk and in what way?

Providing support to NEPAD in the establishment of the Continental Business Network (CBN) (NEPAD Agency, 2015): DNA Economics was contracted to the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) Agency to provide technical advice and support in the establishment of the Continental Business Network (CBN).

Mid-term review of the Agribusiness Development Agency (KwaZulu-Natal Agribusiness Development Agency, 2015): Contracted to undertake a review of the KZN Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA). The review had two broad objectives: (1) To evaluate the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of ADA and its project management processes; and (2) To reflect on the Agency’s performance and identify improvement opportunities for the organisation and its project management processes. The methodology incorporated a literature review, review of KZN ADA's documentation, stakeholder consultations and a visit to (and review of) 6 ADA project sites.

Comparative analysis of Jobs Fund Business Support Initiatives (BSIs) (National Treasury, 2013/14): The study comprised a review and comparative assessment of 15 business support initiatives (BSIs) (such as incubators, micro-franchising enterprises and financing organisations) funded through the DBSA / National Treasury managed Jobs Fund (Enterprise Development) window. The aim of the comparative analysis was to provide deeper insight into the various models used by BSIs to support enterprise development, understand the relative importance of the different service offerings and provide an early assessment of the success of the various initiatives.
The metholodogy comprised of: a qualitative review of BSI reports and primary research through interviews and focus groups with BSI management, staff and clients.

Impact assessment of National Liquor Act (2003) (the dti, South Africa, 2013): DNA Economics was contracted to undertake an assessment of the National Liquor Act (2003), focussing on whether the policy goals outlined in the Act have been achieved since the implementation of the Act in 2003. Specifically the study focussed on the regulation of manufacturing and distribution of liquor, the production of illicit liquor and the employment of minors and the extent to which the Act has successfully reduced the socio-economic harms associated with liquor abuse. The study comprised of desktop research, stakeholder consultations and focus group research of informal liquor retailers.

Review of ANC State Intervention in the Minerals Sector (SIMS) policy (Legal Advisory, 2012): Provided input as part of a report to the South African Chamber of Mines on the ANC's SIMS policy document. The review included the development of a general framework to assess the performance and competitiveness of South Africa's mining sector.

Market scoping - SADC remittances (Cenfri, 2011): Economic migrants in South Africa from the SADC region remit substantial quantities of goods and money to their home countries, but often struggle to access safe and cost competitive forms of remitting. The study provided an estimate of the total size of this market, including substantial detail on remitting behaviour from an extensive focus group research exercise.

Technical Assistance and Mentoring Support to the National Treasury Economic Policy Unit (National Treasury, South Africa, 2011/12): DNA was contracted to the National Treasury to provide technical assistance, research and mentoring support across a wide range of microeconomic and modelling issues. DNA managed this assistance programme and provided three senior experts to work with the Economic Policy Unit. Specifically, the DNA team worked directly with staff within the Treasury and assisted them with research, memos and reports on a number of current economic issues.

Socio-economic impact model of the construction sector (Department of Public Works, South Africa, 2011): DNA was contracted to develop an economy-wide model for the specific purposes of measuring the socio-economic impact of DPW construction expenditure (and other key construction-related programmes) and to develop a user interface to enable the DPW to easily and repeatedly simulate the socio-economic impact of different expenditure and programme decisions.

Liquor market review (National Liquor Authority, South Africa, 2011): Provided a wide-ranging review of the status of the domestic liquor market, including analysis of competitive conditions; a review of socio-economic drinking patterns; international regulatory comparisons; estimates of the economic benefits of the industry and it socio-economic costs; and a review of the effectiveness of industry alcohol anti-abuse programs. The research was conducted with assistance from the University of Cape Town.

State of the built environment professions (Council for the Built Environment, 2010): As a statutory body, the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) is required to regulate the six built environment professions, and, among other objectives ''promote and protect the interests of the public in the built environment.'' The proposed research initiative allowed the CBE to assess the overall commercial health of each of the six built environment (BE) service industries in South Africa. The assessment took into account both the internal features of each industry, and the external forces which influence its health.

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on African countries (AusAid, 2009): The aim of the project was to conduct research on the possible transmission channels of the Global Financial Crisis to 13 African countries and describe which effects are likely to be significant for the various countries.

Economic reviews of South Africa (Trusted Sources; 2008): Wrote quarterly reports on key economic (and political) trends in South Africa for circulation to the private clients of Trusted Sources, a market intelligence company, in the UK.

Savings Barometer (SASI / FinMark Trust; 2007-2008): Reviewed the design and relevance of the 'Savings Barometer', a spreadsheet-based model and index published quarterly by the South African Savings Institute.

Labour diagnostic study in the primary sector (Resolve Group, 2007): Study assessing factors impacting on the supply of labour in the agricultural sector for a large multinational firm.

Industrial Policy Review (USAID/South Africa National Treasury; 2005-2006): Reviewed the use and performance of a wide range of past and current industrial and trade policy instruments in South African and internationally.

Support for Economic Growth and Analysis (SEGA) (USAID, South Africa, 2008-2008): DNA teamed up with IBM Business Consulting (USA) to manage the USAID-funded SEGA II (Support for Economic Growth and Analysis) project in South Africa. DNA provided the Chief of Party (Programme Director) and most of the domestic administrative and infrastructure services to the project. Over a three year period, SEGA II supported over 60 economic research and capacity building activities in South Africa, involving more than 200 expert consultants. More than half of these activities involved support to the South African Treasury to incorporate pro-poor concerns into their spending and tax policies. This included the development of a poverty-line for South Africa; the evaluation of the impact of a wide range of social grant programmes; and an assessment of the cost of tax compliance for small businesses. Furthermore, through SEGA II, DNA facilitated formal economics training for more than 50 South African students in economics; coordinated several short-courses; and implemented an international conference on tax policy reform.