Idasa has been contracted by the Civil Society Advocacy Programme (CSAP) to support advocacy programmes in ten communities in KwaZulu/Natal and Limpopo provinces, in a project funded by the European Union.

The project is designed to address the problems communities face in mobilising to demand their constitutionally protected rights, particularly the socio-economic rights listed in the Constitution. The aim is also to ensure that these are delivered equally, without discrimination, and within a rights-based framework. The project will show how successful advocacy can contribute towards more effective governance and service delivery by government institutions, poverty reduction in the selected communities and improved living conditions for targeted people.

Idasa will work with local civil society organisations in the targeted communities, as well as Chapter 9 institutions (so-called as they are established in terms of chapter 9 of the Constitution). The idea is to establish links between these institutions and communities to help communities claim their rights and improve their situation.

During the first few months of the project, Idasa has been consulting widely within the targeted communities to identify community priorities as well as existing advocacy initiatives on these issues. These consultations showed that in most targeted communities civil society is weak and that although community leaders often agree on the priorities, there were very few existing advocacy initiatives.

Idasa’s strategy therefore will be to build awareness and advocacy skills in the communities, rallying communities around the priority issues. Local civil society organisations will be encouraged to drive these processes.

At the core of Idasa’s approach is activating citizens’ social energy to create participative governance. Successful programmes at a community level in the past have drawn on advocacy training to unlock community commitment and understanding of local governance. In some instances information on how local government works will be added to ensure effective advocacy initiatives.

This often means that in the beginning of the process there can be a lack of clarity on the exact steps the project will take, which requires flexibility to adapt to the processes that will unfold at community level.

The advocacy enskilling and planning workshop in most communities will be the pivot on which the process turns. It will be enhanced through mentoring, coaching, reflection and will be linked to networking.

A critical element in the process will be linking community initiatives with existing provincial campaigns where they exist or linking communities with each other to draw attention to their needs.

In communities where there is little agreement on priorities and a lack of organised civil society, or where civil society is focused on a single issue (eg home-based care) work will be done to build the confidence of people who have not previously been exposed to “public work”.

In working from the bottom up and linking communities to each other or to provincial activities, as well as exposing communities to other projects or campaigns, it is hoped there will be convergence between the advocacy work of these communities.

Idasa will be working in the following communities:
Limpopo
Maila Mapitsane
Moretsele
Winterveld
Marapong
Mookgopong
Vaalwater
Masemola
Sigonde
Tshenzhenlani

KwaZulu/Natal
Cornfields/Escourt
Ingogo
Ixopo
Kokstad
Mthunzini/Mzimela Tribal Authority
Albert Park
KwaNyuswa/Valley of Thousand Hills
KwaMashu K Section
Mpophomeni
Zanzibari community