Through the Hands-on Learning publication we hope to play a helpful role in synthesising information from innovators and implementers in civil society, supporting them to share what they have learnt so that others can draw from and build on their experiences.
Spotlight on obstetric violence: Building a compelling argument for social change
Obstetric violence (OV) refers to rights violations and abuses experienced by pregnant women and birthing people while accessing healthcare during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and in the postpartum period. This form of gender-based violence presents a significant threat to the global health of women and children. Embrace, South Africa’s first social movement for supported and celebrated motherhood believes that the key to ending obstetric violence lies in elevating the voices and experiences of mothers. Even though several organisations have been working to highlight the prevalence and impact of obstetric violence, this issue was not part of mainstream discourse until recently. This learning brief looks at Embrace’s efforts to influence national maternity care policy, raising awareness about the prevalence of obstetric violence, and the urgent need for respectful maternity care in South Africa.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Navigating change in complex social systems
Systemic change typically unfolds within complex social systems where interactions are dynamic and often unpredictable. Many of our most pressing social challenges – like poverty and climate change – stem from these large, intricate systems, making the path to meaningful change uncertain and non-linear. In these systems, behaviours and patterns are deeply ingrained. This learning brief contributes to a collective and cumulative body of operational knowledge that can support systems change catalysts to shift system dynamics and expand their toolkits. It is designed to capture the key lessons for systems change actors, including practitioners, funders, and policymakers, drawing on the experience and impact of Ilifa Labantwana’s work across the South African early childhood development ecosystem. This learning brief seeks to provide systems change practitioners with practical lessons, and act as a point of discussion for evaluating the role organisations such as Ilifa can play in bringing about systems change.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Funding social change through trust-based funding
Community-based organisations (CBOs) are non-profits operating directly in communities, often with limited financial resources at their disposal. They tend to rely on volunteers, responsive to the unique needs of their community and often best placed to diagnose problems and identify solutions with residents. Many are financially excluded from mainstream grant funding because they operate in rural locations with limited visibility and recognition, and they don’t always have the administrative capacity to provide the financial, monitoring and compliance documents that traditional funders expect. Despite these constraints, they play a crucial role in grassroots development, community empowerment and creating sustainable social change. This learning brief looks at what the DG Murray Trust (DGMT) and its funding partners, the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project (CTAOP) and The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), are learning about trust-based funding to support social change practitioners at a community.
To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here.
Read the complete issue below magazine-style on ISSUU – choose full-screen mode [ ] for a better reading experience. Download the complete Hands-on Learning publication (Issue 28) as a PDF.
