Partners

Accountability Lab

The Accountability Lab is building a new generation of active citizens and responsible leaders around the world. It supports change-makers to develop and implement positive ideas for integrity in their communities, unleashing positive social and economic change. Democracy Works Foundation and Accountability Lab have a partnership to implement Integrity Idol South Africa.

Action Support Centre (ASC)

Action Support Centre (ASC) is the Africa regional hub of a global network of organisations and individuals committed to transforming conflict, ACTION for Conflict Transformation (ACTION). The ASC was established in 2002 on the basis of a mandate to set up a communications hub for the network members of ACTION Global. It has since transformed itself into a regional and continental base for organisations working in the fields of conflict and development. The ASC is a strong network movement that amplifies the voices of communities and links them to policy makers at different levels through a focus on; human and people’s rights, capacity building, lobbying and advocacy, people to people solidarity, development, grassroots mobilisation, building organisations and movements, facilitating dialogue, training and initiating innovative forms of organising. ACTION has regional bases in Cambodia, Philippines, Guatemala, and South Africa where the ASC is based and strategic partnerships with organisations in Asia, across Africa and the Americas, and in the European Community.

F20

The F20 platform consists of more than 50 foundations and philanthropic organizations from different parts of the world, calling for joint, transnational action towards sustainable development, along positive transformation examples to provide pathways towards solutions of today’s most pressing challenges – climate change and a just transition towards sustainable development, based on renewable energy. F20 wants to be part of the solution and builds bridges between civil society, the business and financial sectors, think tanks and politics – within the G20 countries, between them and beyond. Democracy Works Foundation is a member of the F20 network.

Freedom House

Founded in 1941, Freedom House was the first American organisation to champion the advancement of freedom globally. It is an independent watchdog organisation dedicated to the expansion of freedom and democracy around the world. Freedom House analyses the challenges to freedom, advocates for greater political rights and civil liberties, and supports frontline activists to defend human rights and promote democratic change. Freedom is possible only in democratic political environments where governments are accountable to their own people; the rule of law prevails; and freedoms of expression, association, and belief, as well as respect for the rights of minorities and women, are guaranteed. More than 2.5 billion people live in countries that Freedom House designates “Not Free,” more than a third of the globe’s population. Freedom House is a sub-grantee of DWF on the Southern Africa Political Parties and Dialogue Programme and the eSwatini Inclusive Policy Development and Dialogue Programme.

Friedrich Ebert Stiftung

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is the oldest political foundation in Germany with a rich tradition in social democracy. The foundation owes its formation and its mission to the political legacy of its namesake Friedrich Ebert, the first democratically elected German President. The work of their political foundation focuses on the core ideas and values of social democracy – freedom, justice, and solidarity. Amongst some of the issues that FES promotes is a free society, based on the values of solidarity, which offers all its citizens the same opportunities to participate on political, economic, social and cultural levels, regardless of their origin, sex or religion and a lively and strong democracy; sustainable economic growth with decent work for all. Democracy Works Foundation is greatly honored to have been a recipient of funds from Friedrich- Ebert- Stiftung (FES)- whose vision and support assisted in the establishment of DWF.

In Transformation Initiative

The In Transformation Initiative was established in 2013 by four veterans of the South African transition to democracy who played key roles in the strategy, discussions, and negotiations that ended apartheid and transformed South Africa into an international model of peace and hope. The In Transformation Initiative approach is premised on the philosophy that lasting solutions to conflict and political instability must be designed and developed domestically. Agreements and actions must evolve locally; they cannot be prescribed by external actors. This philosophy ensures ownership and sustainability, and offers the greatest chances for peace and prosperity. These three concepts of Trust, Inclusiveness and Ownership were critical to advancing democracy and strengthening society, and they are the fundamental pillars of The In Transformation Initiative work. Democracy Works Foundation partnered with In Transformation Initiative on the 'Passing the Baton' project. They are partners in the Democracy Works Academy.

Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation

The mission of the Foundation of the former President of the Republic of South Africa, HE Kgalema Motlanthe, is to serve the South African public interest by facilitating sustainable access to the economy for the beneficiaries by carrying on the Trust object which is to provide monetary and non-monetary socio-economic development contributions within the Republic of South Africa. The vision of the Foundation is to foster cohesion, collaboration and innovation through dialogue among equals. The KMF mission is to promote, foster and enable rational, level headed, inclusive discourse to unlock creative solutions to break deadlock. Democracy Works Foundation and the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation have partnered to work towards a more resilient democratic future for South Africa. DWF collaborates with the KMF on leadership forums and dialogues.

Liliesleaf Trust

Once the nerve centre of the liberation movement and a place of refuge for its leaders, today Liliesleaf is one of South Africa's foremost, award-winning heritage sites, where the journey to democracy in South Africa is honoured. As a ‘nerve centre’ of liberation activities, the meetings that took place at Liliesleaf from 1961 to July 1963, and the events that transpired after the 1963 police raid on the property, mark a seminal shift in South Africa’s liberation struggle history, and fundamentally changed the course of South African history. The Liliesleaf Museum brings to life first-hand account of the events and circumstances leading up to the infamous 1963 raid as well as insights into some of the revolutionary personalities who helped to shape South Africa’s democracy. Find Liliesleaf on TripAdvisor.

National Democratic Institute

The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nongovernmental organization that has supported democratic institutions and practices in every region of the world for more than three decades. Since its founding in 1983, NDI and its local partners have worked to establish and strengthen political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. NDI and its local partners work to promote openness and accountability in government by building political and civic organizations, safeguarding elections, and promoting citizen participation. The Institute brings together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, experiences and expertise that can be adapted to the needs of individual countries. DWF and NDI collaborate on our Southern Africa Political Parties and Dialogue Programme in Malawi.

New Politics

The New Politics Platform has been conceived as a global and decentralised think tank on counter-hegemonic politics that will support the joint production of ideas to: (a) boost the development of desirable, viable and achievable alternatives aimed at transcending current oppressive and exploitative structures; (b) acknowledge the diversity of knowledge as a source of inspiration for the co-creation of alternatives; and (c) promote fruitful collaboration and exchanges among researchers and activists from different regions of the world.

Open Society Foundation for South Africa

The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) is committed to promoting the values, institutions, and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society. OSF-SA is part of the Open Society Foundations network which includes these other African organisations: OSISA, OSIWA, and OSIEA. OSF-SA's focus areas include the Information, Expression, and Accountability Programme, the Justice, Equality, and Rights Programme, and the Research and Advocacy Unit. OSF-SA is a donor partner of Democracy Works Foundation; of our rule of law work and of the 2019 Democracy Fellows.

Plateforme de Protection des Lanceurs d’Alerte en Afrique

Plateforme de Protection des Lanceurs d’Alerte en Afrique (PPLAAF) is a non-governmental organisation registered under Senegalese law initiated by William Bourdon, lawyer and President of the French NGO Sherpa, that is comprised of experts who will help, advise and support whistleblowers. PPLAAF provides technical, legal and media assistance to these potential whistleblowers, whether they are from Africa or the information they want to share is related to Africa. PPLAAF believes that the price of doing the right thing should not include sacrificing one’s life, freedom, family, income, job, career or health. In this capacity, PPLAAF plays the intermediary role by assembling a community of in-house and external experts to help ensure that the perils and threats usually associated with ‘blowing the whistle’ are overcome.

Social Surveys

Social Surveys Africa (SSA) is a leading specialist in social & development strategy with 32 years of supporting decision-makers in government, the private sector and civil society take better evidence-based decisions for social impact. Through our in-house capabilities in generating creative, contextually informed, methodologically appropriate primary evidence and turning this into relevant policy insights, we have had significant impacts on how key institutions think and act in relation to education, land and labour policy, health, youth employment, mining, social entrepreneurship, employee mobility and wellbeing, social cohesion and community-based protests, among others. We deliver respectful, rich and textured insights based on our understanding of the issues that impact communities and organisations. Social Surveys Africa is a 100% South African owned organisation.

Sonke Gender Justice

Sonke Gender Justice (Sonke) is a multi-award winning, women’s rights organisation that is committed to feminist principles, using a rights-based and gender transformative approach to achieve human rights and gender justice. Sonke works in twenty-three countries in Africa, and with key partners globally to promote gender equality, prevent violence, advance children's rights, and reduce the spread and impact of HIV and AIDS. We are widely recognised for the impact of our work, including, as one of many examples, our expertise in engaging men and boys for gender equality. In Africa and globally, we strive for HUMAN RIGHTS, where individuals and communities take ACTION against gender injustice and violence and seek inter-personal, community and structural ACCOUNTABILITY for long-lasting, SUSTAINABLE change. Sonke was founded by a shared understanding that violence against womxn and girls constitutes one of the gravest and most pervasive human rights violations and that it undermines South Africa’s new democracy in far-reaching ways. A further driving motivation was a belief that the gender inequalities, gender norms and power relations underpinning domestic and sexual violence are bad for womxn, but also for men. Recognizing that these norms, and the harmful perceptions of what it means to be a man or a womxn, encourage men to engage in high risk behaviors, Sonke was established with a firm conviction that men and boys had a critical contribution to make in ending violence, in transforming gender roles, and ultimately in being part of the solution to achieving gender justice. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals’ Leave No One Behind agenda, Sonke prioritizes work that improves the lives of the most marginalized populations, such as refugees and migrants, sex workers, the LGBTQI community, prisoners and ex-offenders, people living with HIV, children and youth. Many of Sonke staff are refugees and migrants from the Great Lakes region, enhancing Sonke’s staff capacity with regional expertise and cultural awareness.

South African Broadcasting Corporation

The SABC inspires change through enriching, credible, relevant and compelling content that is accessible by all. Its mission is to to educate, inform and entertain all audiences accessing SABC services. The main object of the Corporation is to supply broadcasting and information services and services that are ancillary thereto, to the general public in the Republic of South Africa and beyond its borders. The SABC hosts a dedicated page of Democracy Works’ articles on their website. Please visit this page by clicking here to view the articles the SABC has published.

The European Union

Following South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994 the EU commenced a comprehensive development assistance programme to the country which was subsequently included in the TDCA. The assistance provided since 1995 amounts to around €2.6bn and covers a wide range of areas. The current Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) for South Africa (2014-2020), drawn up jointly by the two parties, details the areas of cooperation covered by a €241mil funding envelope allocated under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI). EU-South Africa cooperation is focused on three areas: Employment creation- the objective is to assist the Government to reduce unemployment notably through improved labour market policy, skills development and competitiveness of SMMEs. Education, training and innovation- the objective is to assist the Government in transforming the education, training and innovation system so that it can contribute to improved economic performance. Building a capable and developmental state- the objective is to assist the state in fulfilling its developmental and transformative role, notably through improving service delivery.

Transnational Institute

The Transnational Institute (TNI) is an international research and advocacy institute committed to building a just, democratic and sustainable planet. For more than 40 years, TNI has served as a unique nexus between social movements, engaged scholars and policy makers.envisions a world of peace, equity and democracy on a sustainable planet brought about and sustained by an informed and engaged citizenry. TNI’s mission is to strengthen international social movements with rigorous research, reliable information, sound analysis and constructive proposals that advance progressive, democratic policy change and common solutions to global problems.

United States Agency for International Development

USAID leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance and help people progress beyond assistance. USAID transforms. It transforms families, communities, and countries – so they can thrive and prosper. Whether by preventing the next global epidemic, responding to a devastating earthquake, or helping a farmer access tools to grow her business. USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. USAID’s work advances U.S. national security and economic prosperity, demonstrates American generosity, and promotes a path to recipient self-reliance and resilience. The purpose of foreign aid should be ending the need for its existence, and we provide development assistance to help partner countries on their own development journey to self-reliance – looking at ways to help lift lives, build communities, and establish self-sufficiency. USAID's efforts are both from and for the American people. USAID is a Democracy Works Foundation donor partner in our Southern Africa Political Parties and Dialogue Programme.