Thought Leadership Archives - Page 7 of 14

Learning from the Maths Challenge Programme: results-based monitoring to enhance education strategy ~ Sarah Cairns and Lebohang Letsela

Despite high spending on education relative to other countries, South Africa scores poorly on most international education rankings. In 2004, the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) argued that the country would need to double the number of matric Higher Grade (HG)[1] mathematics and science passes for economic growth, a goal which was formally adopted by the government in 2006. Epoch and Optima Trusts, founded by Anglo American, established the Maths Challenge Programme (MCP) in 2007 in response to this imperative. Tshikululu managed and monitored the programme over its 15-year lifespan. Effective monitoring, grounded in a results-based approach, with comprehensive data analysis and reporting have been essential in tracking progress over the course of the programme – and, ultimately, providing the data for making evidence-based decisions about its future.

Fit-for-purpose M&E in the South African context

Measurement of performance and impact is essential for all development stakeholders looking to bring about meaningful social change. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) or impact management and measurement (IMM)1 provides us with a structured way of understanding what a social investment is achieving. However, our efforts to measure success are meaningful only if they are appropriate for the real-world context in which they are being applied. As part of exploring this, Tshikululu hosted a webinar on fit-for-purpose M&E in the South African context on 11 July 2024.

Successful integration of the S into ESG in the SA context

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is increasingly being adopted by businesses in South Africa as a framework to measure and report on sustainability. Globally, ESG is considered by some to have a bias towards the environmental, with frameworks and reporting prioritising the “E”. However, the need for a Just Transition puts the relationship between the “E” and the “S” starkly into focus in the South African context. Prioritising environmental concerns without meaningfully addressing social issues is a recipe for disaster in a country where many communities depend on industries like mining for survival.

PRESS RELEASE: Integrating the ‘S’ in ESG: “Socio-economic development is everybody’s business”

Mining companies, along with other businesses, need to make the fundamental shift towards realising that corporate sustainability is dependent on the ecosystems in which they operate. So says Thabisile Phumo, Executive Vice President: Stakeholder Relations at Sibanye-Stillwater.

How triangulation contributes to meaningful data analysis

When one hears monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experts speak, the concept ‘triangulation’ often comes up. In a space that can be incredibly technical in nature, M&E can sometimes be too ‘jargony’. Therefore unpacking M&E terms is a critical part of ensuring that M&E is comprehensible to as many people as possible. Tshikululu believes that this, ultimately, will allow for more effective social investment decision-making across the board. So what is triangulation and why is it so important?

Social investment in community-based organisations Ali Channon – Social Investment Specialist

The recent unrest and the humanitarian crisis arising from it have highlighted not only the inequality and anger pervading our society, but also the resilience of communities across the country that are working together to rebuild and bring about change at a local level. Community-based organisations (CBOs) play a critical role in this landscape. They represent communities identifying and addressing the issues that most affect them, and being at ‘grassroots’ level gives them a legitimacy that organisations coming in from the ‘outside’ may lack. Social investors are increasingly recognising the importance of resourcing CBOs, but are faced with the challenge of how to reach them as effectively, efficiently and responsibly as possible.

The violent attacks and looting in South Africa – let us not forget its impact on early childhood development!

Whether in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic or during the current violent attacks and looting in South Africa, the needs of young children are often the last to be discussed. The youngest members of our society are among the most vulnerable because – unlike adults – they are unable to make their voices heard; they are unable to protest or advocate for their rights (let alone riot and loot). What will the future generation of skilled labour look like if we neglect the physical, social and cognitive early childhood development of children right now? What will the long-term impact be if we restrict our children’s ability to reach their full potential, thus exacerbating intergenerational cycles of poverty?