About NMA

Our value proposition is to enable sustainable development through public participation. 

We are committed to a vision of an integrated and equitable South Africa capable of delivering prosperity to all its citizens and competing successfully in the global economy. Our mission is to make a key contribution to the transformation and sustainable development of our society.

NMA Effective Social Strategists is a fully HDI (historically disadvantaged) and woman owned consulting practice that specialises in the fields of Public Participation, Social Research, Stakeholder Engagement and Social Facilitation for a wide range of Development Projects. Formerly known as Thebe Development Consultants (Pty) Ltd, the subsidiary Company was formed in 1995 by Thebe Properties (Pty) Ltd, which was a company within Thebe Investment Corporation. In January 1998 Thebe Development Consultants (Pty) Ltd was purchased by Nomi Muthialu, its Executive Manager, as a going concern and subsequently launched as NMA Effective Social Strategists (Pty) Ltd.

The company has extensive experience and a successful track record within the field and has successfully undertaken close on to 200 projects for various government departments over the past 26 years. Our team are committed to the Core Values and Codes of Ethics for Public Participation set by the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).

We provide specialist consulting, research, and project management services in the following areas:

• Public participation, with a strong focus on co-production methodologies, involving a cross-section of stakeholders in development projects;
• Planning, management, and co-ordination of the public participation process for Environmental Impact Assessments;
• Social Development Strategy Formulation, Business Planning and Programme Management;
• Social Research;
• Social Assessment – Stakeholder and Social Analysis;
• Organisational / Institutional Development and Capacity Building;
• Management and Monitoring of Community Leadership Skills Training and Community Development
• Social Impact Assessment;
• Needs Assessments;
• Stakeholder empowerment and capacity building.
• Economic empowerment compliance through the management of local labour employment and SMME tender processes.

Our two most senior staff, Nomi Muthialu and Julian Drew, have more than 50 years combined experience in undertaking public participation for the planning and implementation of large development projects. The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) is the international professional body for public participation practitioners and the Southern African Affiliate of IAP2 was established in 2010. Ms Muthialu is the former Presiding Member (2012 – 2014) of the Federation Board of IAP2, becoming the first African to hold this position, and was a Board Director from 2010 to 2012. She is a founder member of the Southern African Affiliate of IAP2 and was a board director and Deputy Chairperson from 2011 until May 2015.