Southern Africa Ford Foundation 320 East 43rd Street New York, NY 10017 USA fordfoundation.org Southern africa We believe in the inherent dignity of all people. For 60 years, that belief has shaped our support for visionary leaders and social justice organizations in Southern Africa. From the struggle to end apartheid and colonialism to the dawn of a new era of democracy, the work of these visionaries not only has transformed our region but The Ford Foundation works with visionary leaders and also has inspired the world. We are proud organizations worldwide to change social structures and institutions so that all people have the opportunity to reaffirm our long-term commitment to to reach their full potential, contribute to society, have Southern Africa’s continuing struggle for a voice in the decisions that affect them, and live and work in dignity. fairness and equality. This commitment to social justice is carried out through programs that strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human knowledge, creativity and achievement. 1 FORD FOUNDATION | SouthERN AFRIcA FORD FOUNDATION | SoutheRN AFRIcA 1 SOUTHERN africa We believe that the same determination and innovation that fueled Southern Africa’s enormous advances in the past can be harnessed to tackle the next generation of challenges. FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF By leveraging our local and international began by providing fellowships for scholars, scope of work, we opened an office in Johan- presence, Ford has served not only as a grant- funding research that rigorously documented nesburg in April 1993. Since then, we have SOUTHERN AFRICA maker but also as a resource for knowledge, and exposed the devastating impact of South helped the new democracy grow by support- At the beginning of the 21st century, Southern new ideas and connection to social change Africa’s racial policies, and supporting ing rural development, arts and expression, Africa stands transformed. A new generation makers in Southern Africa and across the meetings and other forms of exchange that and comprehensive responses to the HIV/ has emerged with greater opportunities and Global South. gave progressive South Africans the space to AIDS epidemic. Today, our grantees continue expectations for the future. These young From our office in Johannesburg, we discuss the future of their country. to strengthen decades of work on economic Southern Africans are building on past focus our modest resources on supporting In the 1960s, as South Africa’s isolation fairness, democracy, human rights, educa- victories—including progressive laws, organizations that are addressing long-term, deepened, our grantees kept a spotlight on re- tion, and sexual and reproductive health to sustained economic growth and a strong systemic social challenges within four areas: pressive policies and enabled dissenting voices create effective, far-reaching solutions to the network of civil society organizations—to Human Rights and Governance; Livelihoods to be heard. As part of these efforts, we invested problems facing Southern Africa’s people. improve human rights, broaden people’s and Assets; Higher Education for Social in ensuring substantive contact between Amer- access to increased prosperity and bring Justice; and Sexual and Reproductive Health icans and South Africans and, within South EQUALITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL hope to disadvantaged communities. Rights/HIV. Nearly all of these organiza- Africa, between diverse communities. Yet even in the face of these promising tions are based in South Africa; we believe During the 1970s, the foundation We believe that addressing endemic pov- advances, poverty and inequality remain that with South Africa as a hub, the entire broadened the scope of its activity. Ford was erty and inequality is the most important widespread and deeply entrenched. Vast dis- region can benefit from the fresh ideas and instrumental in setting up Southern Africa’s priority in South Africa and the wider parities in access to education, housing, land dedicated efforts of our grantees. Working first public interest law centers. Our grantees region today. Deeply embedded problems and economic opportunity, coupled with the in local villages, with national governments provided legal defense for South Africans like these demand boldness in the face of world’s highest prevalence of HIV, limit the and on the international stage, our partners detained on political charges and helped corruption; active collaboration among region’s continued progress and threaten are developing innovative ways to stem the set groundbreaking legal precedent on indus- civil society groups as well as government the fabric of its communities. Without a rising tide of poverty and inequality, and trial health; access to unemployment insur- and the private sector; and equal measures shared commitment to making the promise while their approaches vary, they all share ance; and restrictions on blacks under the of creativity and commitment to develop of democracy a reality, Southern Africa risks a common element: empowering people to repressive “pass law” system, which was used fresh models and sustain long-term efforts. moving backward, squandering the potential participate fully in the social, political and to limit the movement and tenure of black We are profoundly optimistic about of a new generation to create stronger, more economic institutions that shape their lives. people. Ford also worked throughout this the future of Southern Africa. Our work is equitable societies and continue this region’s Recognizing that the causes of poverty and period to improve educational opportunities anchored in the belief, already proved many inspiring march forward. inequality are complex and interconnected, for black South Africans and participated in times over, that the people of this region we hope that our grantees’ work can model major, collaborative efforts to strengthen have the ability to advance equality and WHAT FORD IS DOING the kind of holistic practices that lasting universities across Southern Africa and the justice, even in the face of daunting chal- social change demands. wider continent. lenges. Only by unlocking the vast potential We believe that social transformation is best In the post-apartheid era, the foundation of these communities can the full promise achieved by investing in people. Since making continued to fund projects that advanced of democracy become a reality for all. our very first grants in Southern Africa in the A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT education and public interest law while also 1950s, we have helped strengthen the ability When our work in the region started in 1953, expanding into other areas, including gender of local communities to advance their own five years of apartheid had already isolated rights, community development and public aspirations for dignity, justice and equality. South Africa from the rest of the world. We policy research. To support this broadened 2 FORD FOUNDATION | SouthERN AFRIcA FORD FOUNDATION | SoutheRN AFRIcA 3 MeetinG the chaLLenGeS in SOUTHERN africa Our work in Southern Africa reflects our long-standing commitment to social justice and economic opportunity for all. The following pages show a small sample of our efforts and those of our extraordinary partners. 1950s–60s 1970s–80s 1990s RESEARCHING FOSTERING DEFENDING EXPANDING SUPPORTING STRENGTHENING ADVANCING BUILDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS LEADERSHIP HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATIONAL AGRICULTURE DEMOCRACY ECONOMIC COMMUNITY early grants in the region Believing that open dia- as the democracy Equity With famine decimating in the years immediately OPPORTUNITY the Market theatre, the helped build knowledge logue would help build movement grew, ford under apartheid, communities across South- before the transition responding to high District Six Museum, the about the devastating im- bridges and turn the tide and other foundations educational opportu- ern africa, our grantees to democracy in South unemployment and robben island Museum pact of apartheid in South of official repression, we established the first nities at all levels were pursued agro-forestry, africa, several of our poverty rates, we and other grantees africa. rigorous research provided fellowships for public interest law severely limited for black water management and grantees played crucial helped implement played an important documented policies, scholars and supported centers in the region, South africans. ford and advanced education in roles in envisioning, and microenterprise and part in defining South practices and attitudes activities that brought helping to build an area other funders supported the rural social sciences, then contributing to small-business develop- africa’s emerging na- resulting from a racially together leaders of all of law that would serve models and policies helping develop sustain- drafting, the country’s ment programs in urban tional identity. to reach segregated society. races from academia, all people. our grantees that made schooling able agriculture in the new constitution and and rural communities. previously marginal- business, government trained black lawyers, more widely available to region and ensuring all establishing the found- our grantees also led ized communities, our and religious organiza- provided legal aid to nonwhite students. We people would have ing principles of the important efforts to partners helped expand tions. indigent defendants also worked to improve access to food. truth and reconciliation