CSOs Come Together to Map and Strengthen South Africa’s Civil Society Ecosystem
Several Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) gathered at Elangeni TVET College to participate in an Ecosystem Mapping Workshop hosted as part of Oribi’s new NDICI REACH EU CSO Programme.
The programme recognises CSOs as critical agents of change in local communities, bringing unique perspectives, expertise and resources to address complex social, economic and environmental challenges.
According to Oribi, the EU REACH CSOs, the programme is a multi-country initiative aimed, among other objectives, at strengthening the social entrepreneurial and adaptive capacity of local South African CSOs led and/or managed by marginalised groups in peri-urban and rural settings across KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo.
“The objective is to enable local CSOs, particularly those led by women and youth, to understand the opportunities in the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) and Social Entrepreneurship (SE) relating to Just Transition, and harness sustainable livelihood-building within the green economy,” reads the project description.
The programme comes at a time when significant social and economic challenges continue to affect communities across South Africa. More than a quarter of households still experience inadequate access to food, while youth unemployment remains above 45%, with women also experiencing high levels of unemployment.
REACH CSOs seeks to contribute to addressing these challenges by strengthening the capacity, governance and advocacy skills of grassroots civil society organisations. Supporting the development of green agri-food social enterprises forms part of this wider effort to create sustainable economic opportunities for young people and women.
Creating spaces for collaboration
Speaking at the workshop, one of Oribi’s project implementing partners, Samkelisiwe Sithole, founder and owner of Luhnyezi Farms, highlighted the value of creating spaces where CSOs can connect, share knowledge and learn from one another.
“The workshop gives CSOs an opportunity to come together, share information and learn from each other. There are many organisations doing valuable work in their communities, and when we share our experiences, skills and knowledge, we can find ways to support one another and grow together. These connections can help us strengthen our organisations and create a greater impact in the communities we serve,” said Sithole.
The Ecosystem Mapping Workshop forms part of the REACH CSOs Programme’s broader effort to understand the civil society landscape, identify the needs and strengths of local organisations, and strengthen collaboration among CSOs working to advance sustainable and inclusive development in their communities.
By bringing organisations into the same space, the workshops provide an opportunity to identify common challenges, share resources and experiences, and explore ways in which CSOs can work together to strengthen their impact.
Next workshop in Gauteng
The next REACH EU CSO Ecosystem Mapping Workshop will take place on 19 October in Midrand, Gauteng.
The workshop will continue the programme’s work of mapping the CSO ecosystem, identifying common challenges and opportunities, and creating connections that can support collaboration, knowledge-sharing and organisational growth.
Through these engagements, REACH CSOs aims to build a stronger and more connected civil society ecosystem, with local organisations better equipped to respond to the needs of their communities and contribute to sustainable development.
