Gauteng community organisations struggling to secure funding could benefit from a European Union-funded initiative aimed at improving resources, partnerships and access to funders.
The REACH CSOs programme brought community leaders and development stakeholders together at Accolades Boutique Venue in Midrand for a workshop to identify local needs and connect organisations with funding and support opportunities.
The initiative is implemented through partnerships involving Oribi (Groupe SOS), Unnati Training Academy and Sothaba Enterprise Associates. It aims to support civil society organisations through incubation, mentorship and grant opportunities until 2028.
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Lucas Tsatsi of Oribi said the programme would help organisations connect with funders and access tools to strengthen their operations.
“Sometimes an organisation is operational, but when it sources funds, it cannot get them,” Tsatsi said.
He said the initiative would also help organisations improve financial management and secure grants to continue serving their communities.
Participants said the workshop also offered an opportunity to build partnerships and avoid duplicating services.
Zen Teitge of Manger Care Centre said collaboration could strengthen community projects, particularly those addressing food security and sustainable agriculture.
“It is a pathway for our organisation to network with similar organisations, to look at not duplicating services, but rather working together,” Teitge said.
Geraldine Dolo of the Dolo Foundation said partnerships could help organisations reach more people and access resources to expand their work.
“When you collaborate and partner, you have a broader reach,” Dolo said.
The programme’s foundation phase includes mapping the needs and resources of civil society organisations across Gauteng. Youth- and women-led organisations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to complete the provincial ecosystem assessment ahead of the next project stages.
