Policy Interaction

EPRU’s main objectives in terms of policy interaction are to be a resource where high quality research and economic opinion on environmental policy issues can be sought by policy-makers, and to engage engages with policy-makers in respect of agenda setting, policy design, formulation and implementation. EPRU’s work caters to the demands of domestic institutions as well as international organizations.

EPRU research fellows have extensive links with policy makers and practitioners in South Africa and have worked with various government units. EPRU works with a number of local and national policy stakeholders on medium-size projects, such as The South African National Parks in the wildlife sector, The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in the water sector, The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on marine and coastal management, and the City of Cape Town on air quality management and energy savings.

For example, Associate Professor Leiman EPRU Research Fellow and Junior Research Fellow, Kerri Brick were asked by Marine and Costal Management to provide an analysis of anchovy products traded globally and imported into South Africa. The report released recommended that the industry investigates the feasibility of targeting shoals of larger anchovies, and sets up onboard facilities to preserve the fish in chilled or refrigerated sea water. Through this report, EfD/EPRU provided demand-driven research for policy makers. 

On the other hand, Associate Professor Martine Visser, EPRU Research fellow and Grant Smith, master student have been involved in an ongoing project involving the role of social norms in lowering household electricity consumption. The study has been done in close collaboration with different departments within the Municipality of Cape Town. The results thus far has shown that providing such information to a treatment sample influenced their electricity consumption significantly. The Cape Town Municipality has been very enthusiastic about these results and requested that the study be extended to pre-paid electricity meters as well. Martine Visser and Grant Smith have also obtained funding from the Water Research Commission to extend the study to water consumption within Cape Town. They are currently in conversation with relevant departments within the Municipality to initialize this second project

While Dr Jane Turpie is currently assisting the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) to prepare their Integrated Growth and Development Plan for 2012-2015. The plan will be published in 2012. Jane Turpie also attended the resource economics ‘think tank’ meetings of the SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) and is is currently advising researchers in Pakistan on carrying out an assessment of the socio-economic impacts of the development of an HEP scheme.


In 2011, EPRU has been also involved in general exchange with policy makers and practitionners around Biodiversity, Water Conservation, Sustainable and Responsible Investment and Climate Change through research presentations in workshops and forums were policy makers were invited.