Civil Society Development Fund: mapping of projects supported in 2019-2020

In 2019-2020, the Embassy of France to South Africa supported the work of 12 South African civil society organisations aimed at strengthening democratic governance, social cohesion and human rights.

Civil society plays an essential role in animating social dialogue, promoting citizen participation in defining and implementing public policies and ensuring respect for the political, economic, social and environmental rights of the most vulnerable populations. This is why partnership with South African civil society organisations (CSOs) is an integral part of cooperation between France and South Africa.

Through its Civil Society Development Fund (CSDF), the Embassy of France in South Africa supported local organisations through projects that contribute to upholding human rights, strengthening social cohesion and the sustainable development of communities, as well as democratic governance.

The mapping below provides an overview of the 12 partner organisations and projects supported in 2019-2020.

The 12 partner organisations – Adonis Musati Project, Biowatch Trust, GenderWorks, Gay & Lesbian Network, Ikamva Lavantu, Just Detention International-South Africa, Lawyers against Abuse, Planact, SaveAct, South African Development and Reconciliation Agency, Valued Citizens Initiative and Wot-If? Trust – work on the following themes:

• human rights, in particular those of vulnerable groups such as members of the LGBTIQ+ community, refugees and asylum seekers, incarcerated women, and township communities.
• access to basic services
• gender equity
• participative governance
• agroecology
• livelihood development, with a focus on skills development, job creation and entrepreneurship

Find out more about these projects in a series of short videos: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgMdOfaVPvinpFuePm41USA/videos

The Embassy also strives to contribute to the networking of supported CSOs, to help them develop new partnerships while promoting opportunities for strengthening both technical and organizational aspects.