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The Gender Links (GL) Association, Board and Management met in Johannesburg from 4-5 November 2023 to revisit our purpose and ways of working in the countdown to 2030, the target for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
Our meeting took place against the backdrop of shrinking regional funding, and the closure of four country offices in early 2023, leading to personal hardships for long -serving staff and associates. GL thanked all those who have continued to champion our shared vision despite these uncertainties.
On a positive note, GL’s Zimbabwe and Mauritius offices are now self-sustaining. GL’s Botswana and Lesotho offices show promise of revival. GL’s service units, including Grant Making, Advisory Services, and the GL Cottages and Conferencing have demonstrated growth and resilience.
A Partner Consultation on Organisational Design and Sustainability, with panellists from three regional and three international organisations, preceded the joint GL meeting. GL extends special thanks to Fadzai Traquino (Women and Law in Southern Africa – WLSA); Luckson Chipare (Media Institute of Southern Africa – MISA); Lynette Mudekunye (REPSSI), Edwin Huizing (Irene M. Stahler Foundation – IMS), Liz.Tremlett (Amplify Change) and David Archer (Action Aid) for their invaluable insights.
Lessons shared by International NGOs included the importance of shifting power; not being overly concerned with northern norms and models; drawing on our wealth of networking experience; succession planning and involving a new generation of young leaders who have different ways of working; keeping it simple; not allowing the past to compromise the future.
From our regional partners we learned of the dangers of regional hubs collapsing altogether; premature exiting of founders without the vision being passed on; membership structures that can become unwieldy; the importance of local grounding; and the dangers of fiscal impropriety. Speakers underscored the long time it takes to build; the short time it takes to destroy; and the even longer time to rebuild especially where reputation is affected. Regional partners emphasised the advantages of working regionally in Southern Africa in social justice advocacy, without necessarily having offices in every country.
The joint GL meeting received a report by Association Member Thoko Mpumlwana on the exit interview conducted by the Association with the former GL Chair Kubeshni Govender. GL thanked Govender for her critical reflections on organisational design, governance, work place environment, staff development and well-being, all of which were taken into account in our deliberations. GL welcomed Emily Brown as Chair, and thanked her for the unity of purpose that led to a substantive meeting and outcomes.
GL reaffirmed its commitment to several foundational principles: transparency; open and honest communication; partnerships; collaboration; decentralisation; ownership; agency; trust; synergies; networking; mentorship, continuous learning, peer linking and sharing. Our meeting covered five areas, on which the Board passed key resolutions. These are:
GL recognised that modes of delivery are changing. GL no longer delivers all its work directly. Increasingly the work is delivered through grantee partners, with GL playing a supportive role. Through its advisory services, GL’s work increasingly responds to needs identified by partners rather than by GL. These are all positive signs of greater ownership, shifting of the power, and new possibilities for movement building.
In light of security risks at the two properties that currently constitute the GL head office, the Board authorised the sale of these properties and purchase of a new property adjacent the GL Cottages, upon the conducting of the necessary due diligence.
Comment on Co-creating a GL fit for purpose in the march to 2030