Collaboration for social change Senzekile Bengu A case study of NGOs participating in the Violence Prevention Forum

By Senzekile Bengu

  This report describes how the Violence Prevention Forum has contributed to changing the relationship between the state and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and how it has empowered NGOs to use research knowledge and to engage with and inform policy.    

  Key findings -   Participation in the Violence Prevention Forum (VPF) has improved relations among non governmental organisations (NGOs), and between NGOs and participating government departments and researchers. This can be attributed to how VPF meetings are designed and facilitated, which has increased empathy and understanding between sectors. There has been a shift in how NGOs view their role in the long-term goal of reducing high levels of violence and align their work with government policy. NGOs have also realised the power and importance of research and evidence, and are making better use of it. NGOs collaborate more with other organisations and sectors as a consequence of their participation in the VPF. The quality of collaboration between organisations participating in the VPF has improved because of how the Forum invests in building trust between participants

   NGOs apply the facilitation tools and techniques they gain at the VPF in staff and project meetings, and use the research in organisational reports and presentations. NGOs that have participated in the VPF feel valued because the Forum appreciates both practice-based knowledge and research f indings. At VPF meetings, new knowledge and research are presented and discussed openly, and decisions are made transparently and collectively. The knowledge and skills gained from participating in the VPF meetings are more likely to be used and applied in NGOs if the person participating in meetings holds a decision-making role in their organisation, is passionate about their work and if there is alignment between the organisation's interests and goals and the VPF focus.

Pretoria: Institute for Security Studies (ISS), 2024. 28p.