The Solidarity Fund is inviting eligible community-based organizations (CBOs) to apply for funding in support of critical activities and services related to addressing gender-based violence (GBV) across the country.

Over the past five years, the rates of reported violence against women in South Africa have shown a general increase. This fact has been clearly highlighted by numerous high-profile incidents of femicide in the past two years, which of course represent just a small proportion of women facing violence in their homes and communities. 

 The Covid-19 pandemic has made a bad situation worse. Despite substantial ongoing efforts to tackle GBV in South Africa, many gaps remain, which have only been exacerbated by the COVID lockdown. These include:

• Shortage of PPE and other critical health supplies at shelters and care centers;
• Accurate information and awareness among women and girls about available GBV services;
• Services (e.g. psychosocial support and legal aid) for women who are experiencing violence;
• Awareness and sensitization among the police about how to properly manage GBV cases
• Inadequate private sector response and partnerships on preventing and responding to GBV;
• Poor coordination among key stakeholders; and
• Inconsistent data and evidence about the incidence of GBV.

Focus Areas

The vast majority of services related to GBV are delivered at community-level, often by small CBOs. The Fund wishes to provide direct support to these organizations, which often struggle to access funding from established donors for a variety of reasons.

The Fund will provide funding to organizations that have a track record of at least 12 months of implementing similar or related activities that fall within the following three broad categories:

Prevention

• Communications activities to drive awareness and behavior change
• Maintenance of safe spaces for women, children and other vulnerable groups (e.g. LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities)
• Skills development and economic empowerment programs for at-risk women and other vulnerable groups
• Individual and family counseling and psychosocial support services
• Positive parenting programmes
• Programmes addressing gender norms, including those that focus on men/boys
• Programmes focused on Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights, as well as self-empowerment (voice and agency) of women and girls

Response

• Provision of trauma counseling to GBV survivors, as well as referrals to relevant social services
• Maintenance of shelter services for women and children
• Programmes to improve access to public and private emergency response
• Support and capacity-building for community caregivers
• Provision of access to protection services

Access to Justice

• Provision of non-profit and/or free legal and paralegal support services
• Provision of support to victims to navigate and interact with the criminal justice system

Funding Information

The Fund will award once-off grants ranging from R50 000 to R250 000 to successful applicants in support of any of the above activities. 

Eligibility Criteria

For the purposes of this call, a community-based organization is considered to be one that is based in and serving a local community. To be considered for funding, CBOs will need to submit the following:

• Proof of registration as a Non-profit Organization with the Department of Social Development (i.e. valid NPO Certificate) and/or as a Public Benefit Organization from SARS (i.e. valid PBO letter)
• Most recent 6 months’ bank statements (the bank account must have been opened on or before 1 January 2020)
• Proof of track record, highlighting your experience with the specific area of focus you are proposing. This can be a reference letter from a trusted person familiar with your work (e.g. ward councilor, chief, local religious/community leader or a funder) and/or a signed funding agreement from a donor and/or a previous report you have sent to a funder/Department of Social Development)
• Copy of founding document (e.g. constitution, memorandum of incorporation, trust deed)
• ID copy and proof of residence for each of your board members, directors or trustees (for FICA purposes).Proof of residence may include e.g. utility or retail bill, lease agreement, affidavit from a police station, letter from a ward councilor)

For more information, visit Solidarity Fund.