A review of gender-based violence organisations in South Africa and their influences of decision-making

As a country attempting to come to grips with high levels of Gender-based Violence (GBV) corroding the social and political fabrics of society, it has never been more important to acknowledge the dimensions of struggles, activism, and interventions of GBV in South Africa. This research explores what intervention designs are used, what is inhibiting and preventing a positive change in the GBV sector, and what influences GBV non-government organisations' (NGO) decisions regarding programme design, implementation, and evaluation. Interview data of nine GBV NGO staff members were collected and thematically analysed to answer the research questions. From the results of this analysis, a model of decision-making for GBV NGOs is proposed. This model includes the influences of funder requirements, organisational learning, and evidence-based literature and theories. Furthermore, the constraints of these influences and the strategies that NGOs take to manage them are revealed. This model shows that while the influences of funder requirements and organisation in-learnings seem to be comparable in scope and frequency, in-learnings are more valued than funder requirements. Moreover, evidence-based research was only found to have a small influence on decision-making and programme design especially due to the perception of “outsider” feedback versus organisational in-learnings. This study presents preliminary best practise suggestions for both funders and GBV NGOs and a broad view of the trends, practises, and drivers of decision-making in the GBV NGO sector. Various stakeholders, NGOs, and funders can draw learnings from the results of this research and adjust where necessary and possible to improve their interventions and/or their practise.

Grantor

Professional Communications Unit

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Kieser, Jemma

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Duffy, Carren

• Sociology

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39620

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39620