The Learning Lunch podcast explores ideas, approaches and social innovations – creating opportunity for non-profit organisations’ teams to discover what others are learning and space to reflect on what these insights might mean for their own strategy and programme implementation.
Strategic litigation is a tactic that involves going to court to promote social change or human rights. This approach targets specific legal barriers that affect entire communities, aiming to reshape laws, policies or practices.
But when is strategic litigation the right tool for an NGO? In some cases, it’s essential when there’s a clear legal violation that requires judicial intervention to effect change — such as when governments fail to uphold constitutional rights. On the other hand, it may not be the best strategy when the legal system isn’t the right forum for the issue at hand, or when the political or public momentum is still building, and a different kind of advocacy could be more effective.
In this Best Bite podcast, we break down the factors that determine whether strategic litigation is the right course of action for NGOs by drawing on the experience of DGMT’s Alcohol Harms Reduction campaign (relaunched as Rethink Your Drink). We speak to the campaign’s lead Zimasa Mpemnyama about why they’ve decided that the courtroom is the best place to effect change.
Zimasa Mpemnyama is the Project Lead for the Alcohol Harms Reduction initiative at DGMT, where she drives strategic policy interventions to reduce the harmful effects of excessive alcohol consumption in South Africa. Her work spans research, strategic litigation, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. Before joining DGMT, Zimasa was a Programme Officer for Strategic Communications at Afesis, a development NGO in East London, where she focused on communications for strengthening local governance and service delivery through public participation and community mobilisation. She holds a BSc in Human Physiology and Microbiology, an Honours degree in Journalism and Media Studies, and a Master’s in Media Theory and Practice, equipping her with a unique perspective on both the physiological impact of alcohol and the media’s role in shaping public perceptions. Zimasa is deeply committed to advancing policy reforms that promote healthier and safer communities in low-income and rural areas.
Here are some complementary bites to make your meal even tastier
Listen to a recent interview on PowerFM where the Northern Cape case is discussed.
DGMT Change Ideas has developed two policy briefs focused on alcohol harms reduction.
Implementing the WHO Best Buys
This brief examines the World Health Organisation’s alcohol best buys and explores how they align with some of the proposed changes outlined in the draft Liquor Amendment Bill.
Combatting alcohol harms: Introducing a Minimum Unit Pricing
This brief advocates for the introduction of a Minimum Unit Pricing policy as a crucial strategy to combat binge drinking.