Network and Advocacy

Through the Networking and Advocacy Programme we seek to build links and strategic alliances with local government, social movements, NGO and donors who can support CBO development. This includes negotiating partnerships and lobbying for opportunities for CBOs.

This programme is the latest addition to our work. Our initial idea had been to capacitate CBOs in their management and leadership so that they become fully recognised for the work they do. However, we noticed that despite being run in a professional manner, organisations were still not considered as equal partners in relations with other stakeholders and continued to work in isolation. We therefore decided to create a space for CBOs to advocate for their interests and rights. In 2005, the Advocacy Programme started through Masikhulisane, a campaign run in collaboration with our associated CBOs, COMBOCO (KwaZulu Natal) and Ikhala Trust (Eastern Cape). Masikhulisane is a Xhosa word meaning "We are growing together". The campaign seeks to promote greater recognition, appreciation and support trough dialogue and partnership building between CBOs, NGOs, donors and local government. In 2006 we hosted a three days residential CBO-Donor Dialogue Workshop. In 2007 the campaign focuses on CBO-Government Dialogue and has extended into the WC, EC and KZN provinces.