The Civil Society Development Fund, run by the Embassy of France in South Africa, supports the participation of South African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in local governance.
Although the South African Constitution mandates local governments "to encourage the involvement of communities and community organisations in matters of local government", research has shown that South African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are often not adequately equipped to participate in local governance.
The aim of the Civil Society Development Fund is to help bridge this gap in capacity. It focuses on developing CSOs’ capacity to advocate the interests of marginalized communities, to contribute to local public policies and to reinforce the accountability of local governments towards citizens.
Within this framework, the main objectives of the Civil Society Development Fund are :
Improving the quality of and access to basic services with a specific focus on sustainable development of communities
Advancing human rights, especially those of women, children and LGBT communities.
The Embassy of France in South Africa, following the principles of the European Charter on Local Governance, is keen to develop a coordinated approach alongside a range of South African and foreign stakeholders, including European Union Member States and their implementing agencies, United Nations agencies and French CSOs. Projects co-financed by one or several of these stakeholders therefore receive preference.
The Civil Society Development Fund offers project based grants.
The average grant per project is € 50 000.
Please note that the call is closed for 2011/2012
Projects are selected by a consultative committee, made up of representatives of the South African government, of foreign donors and of the French Embassy selects the projects.
For more information, read carfully the guidelines
ARESTA (Western Cape) : Promoting refugee rights, improve the self-reliance and sustainable livelihoods of refugees and disadvantaged young South Africa in Western Cape
AFESIS-CORPLAN (Eastern Cape) : Promotion of Active Citizenship in Local Governance in the Eastern Cape
Masimanyane Women centre (Eastern Cape) : Women’s Rights Education and Community
Mobilisation Programme
Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action/Lesbian and Equality project (Gauteng): Asiphephe Project: A New Initiative to Improve Safety and Security for LGBTI People in South Africa
The Mvula Trust (KZN) :
Raising citizens’ voice in service delivery
Planact (Gauteng) :
Capacity building for participatory local governance in urban development processes
The Built Environment Support Group (KZN) :
Deepening Democracy programme
The Alliance for Children’s Entitlement to Social Security (KZN) :
Enabling Document Campaign
Rhodes University Legal Aid Clinic (Eastern Cape) :
Legal Advise Office programme
View CSDF Projects in a larger map
Please note that the Embassy of France does not provide direct funding outside of the CSDF.
For more information, please contact :
The CSDF OFFICER
012 425 17 10
