In South Africa’s local government election season, questions about government performance, political accountability and service delivery are becoming increasingly important. Two years into South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), the question is no longer whether political parties can work together, but whether their cooperation is translating into meaningful improvements in citizens’ lives. These questions formed the basis of a Critical Conversation hosted by ACT Ubumbano and SIVIO Institute on 12 October 2026 in Johannesburg.

The discussion drew on findings from SIVIO Institute’s second-year South Africa Citizens Watch Barometer Report, Coalition at the Midpoint: An Assessment of the Performance of the Government of National Unity, July 2024–July 2026, which recorded an increase in the GNU’s overall performance score from 9% in 2025 to 34%. However, of the 120 commitments tracked, only four had been fully implemented, with 64 in progress and 52 yet to commence. The findings raised questions about the gap between government commitments and actual delivery. Contributions from Mike Makwela of Planact and Professor Hlengiwe Ndhlovu of Wits University brought further attention to citizens lived experiences, service delivery challenges and the importance of democratic accountability.

With local government elections approaching, the conversation highlighted the importance of assessing political performance beyond campaign promises. Although the report focuses on national government commitments, many of the challenges it identifies, particularly around housing, infrastructure and basic services, have implications for local governance. The discussion also raised broader questions about how citizens can use evidence to hold political leaders accountable and participate more meaningfully in democratic processes.

South Africa’s experience also speaks to wider governance challenges across Southern Africa, where questions of political representation, public trust and government responsiveness remain relevant. Through the African Citizens Watch initiative (www.africancitizenswatch.org), SIVIO Institute continues to promote citizen-led monitoring of government commitments across the region. The discussion reinforced the importance of looking beyond political stability and institutional reforms to examine whether democratic governance is delivering improvements that citizens can experience.

Round Two Funding Call

Supporting Community Power, Local Ecosystems and Collective Action

An invitation to community-rooted civil society actors strengthening collective power and local ecosystems.

LFI invites applications from community-rooted civil society actors advancing collective resilience and systems change by strengthening networks, shared infrastructure and accountable local ecosystems.

Why LFI is funding differently

Conventional philanthropy can treat communities as problems to solve and organisations as delivery mechanisms. LFI instead recognises that communities already hold knowledge, relationships, institutions and strategies for changing their conditions.

Communities already organise around land, housing, livelihoods, food, water, safety, education, care and access to the state. LFI aims to support this existing capacity and the relationships that sustain it.

What this round will support

Round Two will provide flexible funding for network and ecosystem strengthening, organisational resilience, community capacity and collective action. This includes coordination, convening, shared infrastructure, core costs, staffing, organising, care, leadership, advocacy, peer learning, referral pathways, livelihoods and community-led alternatives.

We are not looking for the organisations, formations or civil society actors with the most polished proposals. We are looking for those with substance, legitimacy and a credible relationship to the people and places in which they work.

Who can apply?

Applicants must:

• be a South African civil society organisation, formation or not-for-profit actor;
• apply in one province and demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts;
• show ongoing, accountable community relationships and meaningful community influence over priorities or activities;
• present a credible plan to strengthen the applicant, its relationships or community capacity;
• have proportionate governance and financial stewardship arrangements; and
• participate in LFI learning, peer exchange and light-touch reporting.

An anchor can apply on behalf of a wider group of partners

An anchor organisation, formation or civil society actor may apply for a wider network or ecosystem where it substantively coordinates, convenes, resources, connects, organises or supports partners.

Describe the participating actors, shared purpose, decision-making, resource and knowledge flows, mutual support and accountability. A formal consortium agreement is not required.

What do we mean by a demonstrated community footprint?

Provide evidence rather than claims of who you reach, organise with, serve or support. Evidence may include membership or client records, recurring attendance, referrals, cases, organiser numbers, campaign records or trusted references.

Evidence should show the nature, frequency and accountability of engagement. LFI may verify it through references, conversations or appropriate records.

What do we mean by network and ecosystem strengthening?

Network and ecosystem strengthening means improving the quality, reach and durability of relationships among community actors. It may include stronger referral pathways, shared spaces or resources, coordinated action, peer support, mutual aid, movement connections, cooperatives, faith or community structures and partnerships built around shared struggles.

LFI will assess whether relationships are active and reciprocal, whether knowledge and resources move across the network, and whether collective capacity, resilience or influence is increasing. Logos, once-off events or agreements alone do not demonstrate a sustained ecosystem.

Provincial focus

Applicants must select one province and demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts. Preference will be given to applicants headquartered or principally active in that province.

An office in every district is not required, but applicants must explain their work, partners, regularity and evidence in each place.

What we are not looking for

LFI will not support:

• individuals or commercial businesses;
• applicants without substantive work across three districts;
• once-off events that do not build organisational, community or collective capacity;
• work lacking meaningful community participation or accountability;
• party-political campaigning or direct candidate benefit; or
• materially false, misleading or unverifiable applications.

How applications will be assessed

Applications will be assessed on:

• Community legitimacy and reach: trust, accountability and credible engagement.
• Provincial rootedness: substantive work across at least three districts.
• Network and ecosystem strength: stronger relationships, shared infrastructure, coordination, mutual support and collective influence.
• Systems transformation: addressing structural exclusion and inequality.
• Stewardship: proportionate governance, finance and safeguarding.
• Learning: willingness to share practice and learn with others.

What we will ask

Applicants will briefly explain their province and districts; communities and issues; core work; evidence of reach; key network actors and relationships; how knowledge, resources and referrals move; community participation and accountability; the anchor role, if relevant; what ecosystem capacity needs strengthening; what flexible funding would enable; and the amount requested with main expenditure areas.

Where possible, applicants will be able to respond in plain language. You may attach short videos or voice submissions as evidence for selected questions.

Funding period and grant size

• Funding period is from  March 2027 to February 2029
• Grants of R700,000–R975,000 will be awarded

Amounts will reflect footprint, scope, needs, ecosystem role and credible use of flexible funding. Budgets should identify main expenditure areas.

To apply, complete the application form here. If you are applying for the first time, simply register here, then you will be ready to get started. Applications close on 30^th November 2026.

LFI expects to fund a limited number of applicants. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

At the midpoint, the important question is not simply whether commitments were made, but what is happening to them now. What does the evidence tell us about the journey from election promises to policy action?

You are invited to a Critical Conversation on the performance of the Government of National Unity. It is a space to interrogate the findings of the Coalition at Midpoint report, and will examine the progress made by the GNU, the commitments still awaiting implementation, and most importantly, what must happen before the end of the current term to translate commitments into meaningful policy action and outcomes.

Let’s look at what the evidence tells us and reflect critically about where we are, and about where we should be going.

Join the Conversation:

Date: 12 October 2026
Time: 14:30 SAST
Venue: Garden Court, 2 Hulley Rd, Isando, Kempton Park, 1619

Can’t attend in person in Johannesburg? Join the conversation online.