Contacts

92 Bowery St., NY 10013

thepascal@mail.com

+1 800 123 456 789

Category: News

NEW REport
Gender JusticeNews

Press Release – Launch of report on Gender-Based Violence

Today marks the start of the annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV). The theme for this year is “UNITE to End Violence against Women.” To join the global campaign, the Southern Africa Trust has launched the “Status of Gender Based Violence in Selected Southern Africa Countries” Report. Read in detail…

Invitation (4)
Climate Justice & Natural Resource ManagementNews

Dialogue – Empowering African Youth for the fight against impacts of Climate Change

The Southern Africa Trust in partnership with the Climate Justice Just Transition Donor Collaborative (CJ-JT) and Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYOF) is hosting a webinar to explore how we can support a unified Africa youth voice at COP28.

Please click here to read profiles of the speakers.

Register here!

Alice
News

Announcing the new Chief Executive Officer

The Southern Africa Trust’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it has appointed Ms Alice D. Kwaramba – Kanengoni as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective 2nd September 2022. The appointment follows an extensive search and selection process with candidates from across the Africa region. Ms Kwaramba- Kanengoni is an enterprising, self-driven and highly motivated Senior Executive, a SADC citizen who is driven to contribute meaningfully towards social justice on the African continent, and globally with solid years of work experience.

She joins the Trust following 18 years with the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA), where she held a variety of executive management, programme and project leadership roles with most recent, Senior Manager: Strategy, Accountability and Learning. Lauded across organizations for her impeccable leadership on gender equality strategy and programme design, programme management, grant-making and impact assessment. She holds the distinction of successfully leading the design and implementation of strategic programs for betterment of marginalized groups, especially women in Africa. Designed and successfully delivered short, medium & long-term strategies, programs and projects on gender equality, social justice and human rights in the global South.

“The Board of Trustees are delighted to introduce Ms Kwaramba – Kanengoni to our key stakeholders and partners, we believe she is a great fit for the Trust with the combination of education qualifications, skills and experience to grow the Trust into an even greater, more successful and impactful organisation”, said the Board Chairperson.  

Please join the Board of Trustees in welcoming Ms Alice D. Kwaramba – Kanengoni to the Trust.

Sincerely

Sazini Mojapelo
Chairperson 

8529ea00-inkedgarden-environment-pics-3_li-768×480
News

SA Trust partners with community foundations to overcome challenges posed by Covid-19 pandemic

The Southern Africa Trust is a regional organisation that supports citizen engagement by generating relevant knowledge to inform policy discussions. It facilitates partnerships between policymakers, civil society and private sector groups for joint action to advance the pro-poor development agenda.

It also mobilises and builds agency among the poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups for their voices to be heard in policy dialogue and the ability to hold governments to account. The Southern Africa Trust programme covers the following areas: climate change and natural resource management, gender justice, youth, economic recovery and Covid-19.

With support from Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, SA Trust is working with community foundations in Southern Africa. These are grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in defined local geographical areas. With a spike in poverty levels, unemployment, and loss of income due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the role of community foundation has gained more significance in identifying and solving community problems.

In South Africa, SA Trust is working with Community Development Foundation Western Cape (CDF-WC), Initiative for Community Advancement (ICA), Cederberg Social Development Foundation (CSDF), Namkawa Ontwikkeling (NAMKO) and Uthungulu Community Foundation (UCF).

CDF manages to keep their doors open

The Community Development Foundation (CDF) Western Cape is looking forward to a sustainable future after forging a partnership with the Southern Africa Trust.

Executive Director of CDF Western Cape Freda Philander said the foundation, which has the vision “to ensure that ordinary people living in the Western Cape are provided the opportunity to identify their potential, set appropriate goals and achieve extraordinary dreams”, managed to keep its doors open amid the donor funding crisis that came with the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020. A grant from SA Trust came in the nick of time, as international donors were withdrawing funds from community development organisation at the height of the pandemic.

“In South Africa a lockdown was announced in March 2020, and that is when all the donor support was either cancelled, or they exited. Fundraising initiatives were also either aborted or postponed due to lockdown, so there was a possibility that CDF would close in September 2020. SA Trust came in as a partner and gave us a much-needed grant of R300 000, which was made in two tranches. SA Trust helped us with institutional strengthening and put us back on track,” said Philander.

CDF Western Cape works with 13 other local community-based organisations (CBOs) in Delft, Hanover Park, Heideveld, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha, Seawinds and Atlantis, which in turn reaped positive spinoffs from SA Trust’s grant.

By keeping its doors open, CDF was able to provide grants to local community partners, which went towards feeding schemes in the communities during the Covid-19 pandemic. This opened avenues to the local CBOs to raise funds and forge partnerships for sustainability with other donors.

“In Delft, Masithembele Enrichment Centre joined Food Forward, which provides them with monthly food contributions that reach 80 families. They continue to feed about 4 000 children and adults per month from contributions received through local community giving,” Philander said.

“The Alcardo Andrews Foundation in Hanover Park forged further partnerships and managed to feed 8 900 people in the morning and 1 151 in the evening with warm meals. Due to the Covid-19 relief grant made by CDF Western Cape, the Children Resource Centre was able to attract the attention of some donors that gave them more funding, which allowed them to feed 60 children in 11 areas in the Western Cape for three days per week,” she said.

The charitable foundation’s aim is to continue to support communities while taking care not to strip them of their agency. “It’s about demonstrating the strength and power of, by and for the community. It was and still is the trust relationships built over many years, which continue carrying the foundation through crises,” she said.

Philander added that CDF envisaged an ongoing partnership and collaboration with SA Trust, in the form of “focused and meaningful dialogues on social justice and the alleviation of poverty, horizontal philanthropy, peer training and support”.

Namakwa community fell into hard times

Southern Africa Trust has helped several non-profit organisations (NPOs) in the Northern and Western Cape to navigate the unprecedented difficulties that came with Covid-19, with positive spinoffs for dozens of local communities.

SA Trust has assisted local NPOs involved in community development with capacity building in addition to financial support. Namakwa Ontwikkeling (NAMKO) — a community outreach foundation in Okiep — was on the verge of closing down after 28 years of supporting local communities.

SA Trust has provided financial support to NAMKO, which helps the Namakwa community in Okiep

NAMKO’s Brendon Andrews said SA Trust gave them R425 000 at a time when funding from overseas donors was running dry because of the Covid-19 crisis.

“We are the oldest organisation based in this area. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many other small organisations closed down. They got some of their funds from overseas donors, but during the Covid-19 crisis, those overseas companies and donors withdrew their funding from South Africa, and used it in their own countries,” said Andrews.

“SA Trust first supported us with R250 000, then added another transfer of R108 560; the last one was R65 000. But when we also consider training and non-financial support, it adds up to a lot.”

According to Andrews, who is now 40, and has been working with the community since he was 14, NAMKO has three programmes: Inspired Women, Food Sovereignty and the Youth Programme. It aims to address gender-based violence, food security and over-indebtedness respectively with the three programmes.

The Namakwa community fell into hard times after a copper mine that supplied the bulk of employment in the area closed down in the 1990s. The community was then beset with debt, substance abuse and gender-based violence, along with other social ills symptomatic of unemployment and poverty.

NAMKO sadly lost director Quinta Titus recently, and training exchanges facilitated by SA Trust helped them focus on succession planning. “We are busy fundraising, so that we can set up certain targets for certain issues in our community. For gender-based violence, which is a huge factor around here, we’ve established the Quinton Titus Response Fund. But we’re also not just focusing on GBV; we would like other organisations in the community to apply for funding.”

Andrews said the aid that SA Trust has provided NAMKO will have a positive ripple effect on the communities, as the NPO aims to pay it forward to frontline organisations, to empower them and to mitigate the effect of the donor drain.

Youth recreational centres for drug and substance abuse
A rural-based foundation was able to help people who lost their jobs due to Covid-19 lockdowns start their own businesses, after receiving funds from Southern Africa Trust (SA Trust).

According to Jeremy Maarman, Founder and Director of Initiative for Community Advancement (ICA), the foundation received R260 000 in funding from SA Trust, in addition to non-financial support.

The ICA in Bergrivier is among the many beneficiaries of SA Trust

“SA Trust has been supporting us since 2019 as a capacity-building partner. In 2020 they funded three of our staff members to attend courses at Wits for institutional development. They invested R260 000 in our projects; that funding was received in October 2020.”

The ICA is a small-scale funder of community projects, situated in Piketberg in the Bergrivier municipal area of the Western Cape. The foundation has two active funds: the Bergrivier Youth Fund and the Community Rebuilding Fund.

Anzita Booys received funding from the ICA’s Community Rebuilding Fund, which helped her get back on her feet after she lost her job due to Covid-19 lockdowns.

“I worked for five years at PPC kiosk and due to lockdowns in 2020, I lost my job. I decided I must make a plan. Where was I to get a job during lockdowns?”

Boots used her passion for catering and experience to start her own business. “I registered my business Zita’s Foods and started selling take-aways and platters, and provided catering services. Then I heard that ICA supports small businesses, and I applied for funding.”

Booys got R8 000 funding from ICA and used it to buy equipment and stock. “I bought a deep freezer, a mini oven and groceries, then I got a tender at the PPC kiosk and I am now the owner. It’s almost a year now, and thanks to ICA I am open for business.”

Maarman said the ICA has community-affiliated funds and fund-raises locally. Those funds are distributed for local community issues.

“One of the biggest issues in the rural communities ICA serves is unemployment, which mostly affects young people. The Berg Youth Fund develops youth locally and provides soft skills development and recreational workshops. Idleness can lead to negative behaviours. Drug abuse and substance abuse are huge in our area,” he said.

ICA also has an education fund supported by a dentist who is originally from the Bergrivier area. “Sometimes it is too late to invest in university education for youths. When they go from rural areas to the big city, they can easily be enticed into drugs, and disappear in the system.“The Doctor Somers Education Fund supports beneficiaries from primary school and takes them to well-resourced high schools that offer better quality schooling and career guidance. This allows them to choose subjects in line with their abilities, to curb the high university dropout rate. The support needs to come early on.”

The ICA’s current focus is on getting members of the rural communities in the West Coast to become more actively involved in their own development processes. “We have a contract with SA Trust until September 2021, and we are hopeful their support will continue for another three years,” said Maarman.

Source : Mail & Guardian

vacancy
CareersNews

Programme Coordinator : Economic and Development Policy

Opportunity type: Employment
Contract type: Fixed term employment up to 31 March 2024

The Southern Africa Trust was established in 2005, to support civil society organisations in Southern Africa to participate effectively and with credibility in policy dialogue so that the voices of the poor can have better impact in the development of public policies. Our mandate is to work on a non-profit basis, to engage in activities that contribute to the reduction of poverty & inequality. In delivering this mandate, we strive to strengthen the voices of poor people in public policy processes. Africans deserve an economy that allows each person to lead a dignified and meaningful life. We believe inclusive economies are critical for reducing poverty and inequality and unlocking the potential of regional integration to generate jobs, drive innovation, protect the environment and generate economic opportunities for all.

The Southern Africa Trust seeks to recruit a Programme Coordinator: Economic and Development Policy

Purpose

The main purpose of this role is to drive the implementation of the Southern Africa Trust programme on Economic and Development Policy (EDP). The Coordinator will lead in conceptualisation of our EDP advocacy agenda and implement related projects. The position holder will undertake policy research, track and analyse emerging policy issues in major decision-making spaces i.e regional economic communities SADC, COMESA and national level.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Building stakeholder relations and analysis among policy makers, private sector entities and civil society groups.
  • Providing updates on policy-related developments and support civil society to develop advocacy plans
  • Organizing and facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogue events on key policy issues as they emerge and aligned to the Southern Africa Trust strategy
  • Building civic capacity of the region on relevant policy development, shaping the mobilisation engagement agenda and strategy for citizens groups
  • Supporting platform building, monitoring outreach interventions carried out in southern Africa
  • Coordinating and developing a sustained practice of multi-stakeholder policy engagement between civil society organizations, businesses, government, donors and other interest groups in Southern Africa

Competency profile:

The candidate must hold a relevant Master’s Degree in economics, law, development studies, social sciences. 5 – 8 years in development sector, engagement with Regional Economic Communities i.e SADC. COMESA. Knowledge of Economic and Development Policy, policy research, programme implementation and knowledge management. Demonstrated ability in managing stakeholders, developing partnerships and resource mobilisation. Must have project management, problem solving and analysis skills. Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills, experience in the NGO sector.

Please forward your curriculum vitae and covering letter explaining of your interest in the work of the Trust to email recruitment@southernafricatrust.org

Please include the full position title you are applying for in the email subject line.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The Southern Africa Trust is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants must be in possession of the appropriate and valid rights to work in South Africa.

The Southern Africa Trust reserves the right to modify this job advert or not to make an appointment.

Opportunity Closing Date: 5th May 2022

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

vacancy
CareersNews

Programme Coordinator: Gender Justice

Opportunity type: Employment
Contract type:  Fixed term employment up to 31 March 2024

The Southern Africa Trust was established in 2005, to support civil society organisations in Southern Africa to participate effectively and with credibility in policy dialogue so that the voices of the poor can have better impact in the development of public policies. Our mandate is to work on a non-profit basis, to engage in activities that contribute to the reduction of poverty & inequality. In delivering this mandate, we strive to strengthen the voices of poor people in public policy processes. Africans deserve an economy that allows each person to lead a dignified and meaningful life. We believe inclusive economies are critical for reducing poverty and inequality and unlocking the potential of regional integration to generate jobs, drive innovation, protect the environment and generate economic opportunities for all. The Trust in 2022 to 2024 plans to purposeful engage with gender justice for women’s empowerment focusing on mainstreaming gender across the organisation and its programme.

The Southern Africa Trust seeks to recruit  Programme Coordinator: Gender Justice

Purpose

The main purpose of this role is to provide programmatic and technical support across the Southern Africa Trust work in implementing gender mainstreaming and gender responsive approaches in our thematic focus areas. The coordinator will also advise and develop  women empowerment initiatives and advance gender equality in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

Coordinate the Gender Justice Programme portfolio

  • Provide strategic and technical support to the Southern Africa Trust for mainstreaming gender across the organisation and its programmes
  • Gender responsive project development, coordination and implementation
  • support and coordinate the development of policy research; and the tracking and analyzing of emerging policy matters
  • Organizing and facilitating multi-stakeholder policy dialogue events on key gender policy issues as they emerge from the Trust’s programme areas
  • Identify, initiate and maintain stakeholder relations that are critical for advancing gender justice at a national, continental and international level.
  • Cultivates collaborations on gender issues, identifying project opportunities, advising or designing projects,
  • Provide technical support to the development of partnerships and resource mobilization strategies
  • Research, develop and manage knowledge products and tools on gender themes i.e. gender-based violence, gender responsive strategies and sustainable development
  • Develops the Trust’s gender analysis, learning and strategies for multi-stakeholder approaches to policy development in close cooperation with other programme areas of the Trust
  • Providing support  in advocacy campaigns by engaging the media to gain exposure and credibility
  • Monitor the implementation of activities and the expenditure of funds by partners and conduct regular monitoring visits

Competency profile:

The candidate must hold a  relevant Master’s Degree in gender studies, development studies or social sciences.  with 4 – 8 years  experience in the advocacy space. Knowledge and working experience with Gender Justice approaches, policy research, programme implementation and  policy analysis and knowledge management. Demonstrated ability in managing stakeholders, developing partnerships and resource mobilisation. Must have project management, problem solving and analysis skills. Excellent presentation, written and verbal communication skills, experience in the NGO sector.

Please forward your curriculum vitae and covering letter explaining of your interest in the work of the Trust to email recruitment@southernafricatrust.org.

Please include the full position title you are applying for in the email subject line.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The Southern Africa Trust is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants must be in possession of the appropriate and valid rights to work in South Africa.

 The Southern Africa Trust reserves the right to modify this job advert or not to make an appointment.

Opportunity Closing Date:  5 May 2022
Location:  Johannesburg, South Africa

vacancy
CareersNews

Chief Executive Officer

Three-year fixed-term contract

The Southern Africa Trust was established in 2005, to support civil society organisations in Southern Africa to participate effectively and with credibility in policy dialogue so that the voices of the poor can have a better impact on the development of public policies. Our mandate is to work on a non-profit basis, to engage in activities that contribute to the reduction of poverty & inequality. To learn more about our organisation and our mandate go to: https://www.southernafricatrust.org/

Based in Johannesburg, the Board is looking to appoint an exceptional individual to contribute to our exciting agenda at a time of unprecedented challenge and opportunity for the region and sector. The individual must demonstrate a track record of achievement in leading an organisation, with the confidence and capability to challenge and inject vibrancy and strategic thinking at the executive level. The candidate is expected to fully subscribe to the Southern Africa Trust values and principles and be prepared to be part of a team that will drive the Trust’s sustainability.

The CEO will lead the Trust providing strategic leadership and direction, detailing the short and long-term strategic objectives to deliver on the mandate of the organisation. The position will:

  • lead and oversee resource mobilisation for the Trust;
  • manage key stakeholders;
  • provide strategic risk management and governance oversight;
  • be accountable for all functions and oversee a profit-making entity for organisational
  • sustainability;
  • influence and profile the Trust as a recognised, sustainable and preferred strategic
  • partner by all its stakeholders.

We are looking for a candidate who is an established leader with experience in international organisations, solid resource mobilisation experience, knowledge of the SADC region’s social, political, environment and economic context, people and diversity management, sound understanding of poverty challenges and human rights development, civil society with grassroots groups and networks. Must have a relevant Master’s degree with 10 years of relevant experience, at least 5 years at an Executive Management level.

The Southern Africa Trust is an organisation that promotes inclusivity and particularly encourages young people and women to be part of the team. Please forward your curriculum vitae and covering letter explaining your interest in the work of the Trust to email recruitment@southernafricatrust.org. Please include the full position title you are applying for in the email subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

The Southern Africa Trust reserves the right to modify this job advert or not to make an appointment. Closing date: 30 April 2022.

mining
News

Advancing Climate Justice Accountable Natural Resources Governance in Southern Africa

The Southern Africa Trust invites applications for grants to commission research, convene stakeholder or policy dialogues and build capacity to strengthen alliances and coalitions to advance climate justice and accountable natural resource governance in southern Africa. The Trust supports civil society organisations and marginalised groups through building regional networks and promoting interconnections to fight poverty and inequality in the region. Organisations from grassroot levels, movements, civil society groups, alliances and coalitions focusing on climate justice and natural resource governance in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa and Malawi may apply. Applications close at midnight CAT on 4th February 2022. For any queries, please contact grants@southernafricatrust.org. To read the full concept note, click here.
SADC member states urged to increase funding towards social-protection
News

SADC member states urged to increase funding towards social-protection

The Southern Africa multi-stakeholder regional dialogue has today opened in Johannesburg, South Africa with a call for governments to devise ways of mitigating the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the marginalized. Opening the meeting, Southern Africa Trust programme coordinator on economic policy development programmes Shamiso Chigorimbo said the meeting aims to discuss the potential long-term effects of Covid-19 on the key economic activities, discuss key policy issues in relation to the recovery among others.

Chigorimbo: Finds ways to mitigate impact of Covid-19

Making his presentation, Gabriel Pollen from the University of Zambia cited the need for governments to increase funding towards social protection initiatives to mitigate challenges faced by the poor community exacerbated by the pandemic. Pollen further called for the need to formulate coordinated policies particularly on trade and the transport sector to ensure the continuation of cross-border trade even during a pandemic. 

Southern Africa People’s Solidarity Network regional coordinating committee member, Joy Mabenge, called on SADC member states to increase funding in the health sector and adhere to the Abuja declaration where leaders pledged to commit 15 percent of the national budget to the health sector. About 30 representatives from various sectors and organizations from Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and beyond are attending the two-day conference taking place under the theme” ‘Are we building back better towards an economic recovery?’

5e0e176117e08429178117c5_matt-artz-GdAsMUcW7CM-unsplash-scaled-1536×1021
Gender Justice

Upholding democracy, human rights and conservation

Tellus mauris a diam maecenas sed enim ut sem. Viverra accumsan in nisl nisi scelerisque eu ultrices vitae. Pellentesque eu tincidunt tortor aliquam.