Social investors play an essential role in addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. The previous piece in this series explored approaches to investing in GBVF, and in this article we take a look at a strategic programme that combines depth and breadth for a comprehensive approach to addressing GBVF.

The GBVF Programme Extension Project is a programme targeting communities around six Anglo American Platinum mining operations. It builds on Anglo American Platinum’s existing efforts to support the fight against GBVF and strengthen resilience in host communities. The Extension Project provides capacity to GBVF care facilities and support to survivors by strategically equipping them with knowledge, skills and opportunities that can enable their sustainability and independence.

Central to the programme design was the recognition that grassroots organisations play a crucial role in both GBVF prevention and response, but many operate with limited capacity due to inadequate funding and resources. The project took a multi-faceted approach, aiming to build capacity at a local level to create sustainable change. It offered capacity building and infrastructural upgrades to GBVF facilities within Anglo American Platinum’s host communities, strengthening their capacity to provide essential services. It also engaged GBVF survivors in economic empowerment activities to promote their economic independence.

Building the capacity of GBVF facilities, like shelters and victim empowerment centres, enables more survivors to be assisted with essential services, while improving the ability to reach previously hard-to-engage audiences with educational dialogues, targeted awareness campaigns, and gender sensitivity training. A total of 20 facilities received capacity building support, with 17 of those also receiving infrastructural upgrades, and 12 receiving small grants to help strengthen their services. Their engagements with cultural institutions and community leaders facilitated ongoing efforts to dismantle harmful gender norms in everyday interactions and built confidence in the networks available to survivors. Through the survivor economic empowerment initiative, 38 survivors of GBVF completed an entrepreneurship coaching and mentorship programme following their participation in the Grow, Learn and Own Programme.

Tshikululu co-designed the strategy and provided stakeholder engagement, programme management, governance and financial management services. The programme highlighted three key lessons for GBVF interventions, particularly those looking to create sustainable change at community level:

1. Community-based organisations (CBOs) are key to building capacity and resilience at community level. CBOs should be supported and engaged as critical stakeholders for addressing GBVF in communities. Their unique insights and experience enable an effective, sustainable, and community-driven response to social challenges. By investing in the capacity of local organisations and communities, social investors can drive lasting change and enhance the overall impact of their investments.
2. Understanding the context is essential for social investment. Effective social investment requires a wellfounded understanding of local needs, assets and priorities. This understanding can be developed through community needs assessments, baseline research, and ongoing stakeholder engagement. We have found that employing a social facilitator with established relationships in the target communities is very valuable in managing relationships with stakeholders and creating shared understanding between the communities and the social investor.
3. Integrating prevention and response contributes to a holistic approach to addressing GBVF. Investing in both prevention and response efforts helps to build a comprehensive ecosystem of support within communities. It recognises the need to grapple with the root causes and drivers of GBVF, such a patriarchal beliefs, inequality and substance abuse, while also ensuring that survivors of GBVF have access to effective support services. This two-pronged approach aims to enhance support service linkages and foster sustainable community-driven GBVF prevention efforts.

The strategic use of social investment funds is a powerful tool in the fight against GBVF. This programme is an example of how a social investor can contribute towards the strengthening of community assets and build resilience at community level.

Tshikululu is South Africa’s leading social investment fund manager and advisor, working alongside investors and other development partners to achieve sustainable social impact. More information about our services can be found on our website, or you can contact us at in**@************rg.za. Our trust and programme management service line includes trust management and governance, financial management, governance advisory, social investment strategy design and implementation, programme and grant management, and monitoring and reporting.