This project set out to develop a tool with which to monitor and evaluate the (progressive) realisation of socio-economic rights  in  South  Africa.  The  aim  was  twofold:  firstly,  to  move towards  an  agreement  on  what  progressive  realisation  of  socio-economic  rights  means  in South  Africa  –  to  what  end  and  over  what  time  span  –  and  secondly,  to  compare achievements  with  the  realisation  of socio-economic rights  to  outcomes  in  other countries that have similar resources at their disposition. The former is important in order to ensure that  when  talking  about  progress  on  socio-economic  rights  a  consensus  might  emerge around  what  it  means  to  make  progress  in  South  Africa  –  a  country  that  continues  to struggle  with  huge  spatial  and  income  inequalities  due  to  its  apartheid  past.  The  latter  is important  in  order  to  ensure  that  the  caveat  that  the  government  must  only  realise  these rights  with  the  available  resources  does  not  allow  for  an  opt-out  of  making  the  biggest effort  possible  to  improve  access  to  these  rights.  The  latter  objective  also  seeks  to  tie resources  spent  to  outcomes  on  the  right  in  order  to  assess  whether  increased  spending  also leads to improved outcomes.

Full document: A Monitoring Tool for Socio-Economic Rights in South Africa.