CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
A Multi-Year “Learning Grants” Award for Community-Based Organisations and Grassroots Social Movements in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Background
The Southern Africa Trust (the Trust) works to promote and support policies and practices that reduce poverty and inequality in the southern African region. The Trust strengthens the voice and agency of civil society actors, particularly community-based organisations and grassroots movements, to influence development outcomes that are people-centred and just.
In its current strategy, Seriti, the Trust has adopted a strong feminist and intersectional lens, ensuring that its programming actively challenges structural power inequalities and prioritises inclusive, transformative justice. Through Seriti, the Trust advances gender justice, equity, and accountability by recognising how different forms of discrimination and marginalisation intersect, especially across lines of gender, class, age, geography, and ability.
Purpose
The Trust is pleased to announce a Call for Nominations for community-based organisations (CBOs) and grassroots social movements working to advance human rights and social justice in southern African.
As part of our initiative, Strengthening the Southern African Civic Formations Ecosystem for Human Rights and Social Justice, we are seeking to identify and support impactful, community-rooted organisations and movements that are making meaningful contributions in driving social change at local level.
The goal of the “Learning Grants” initiative is to co-create with selected implementation partners a participatory grant making and systematic Learning model. This will facilitate co-creation, participatory engagement in designing project concept, shared tracking and assessment and collective learning circles.
This is more than a grant. It is an investment in community power, collective care, and systems change. We believe the future of justice in our region is being shaped by those organising from below, often with little recognition and few resources. This initiative honours their leadership, resilience, and vision.
Who Can Be Nominated?
We invite nominations of CBOs and grassroots social movements that:
• Are based in and working within one of the following countries: Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Have a clear and verifiable evidence of promoting human rights, social justice, community organising, advocacy, or movement building.
• Operate primarily at the community or grassroots level, engaging directly with marginalised communities.
• Are locally led, and reflect the voices, leadership, and aspirations of the communities they serve.
• Demonstrate commitment to feminist principles and values and ways of solving problems in their communities, with evidence of knowledge and experience in feminist and intersectional approaches to social justice concerns.
Who Can Nominate?
• Nominations are open to the public. Individuals, civil society organisations, networks, and coalitions are encouraged to nominate eligible CBOs, community activists or movements.
• An organisation or individual nominating can be from any southern African country.
• Self-nomination is not permitted.
• An individual who nominates should not be employed by or affiliated with the nominated organisation.
Grant Award Details
• Type of Grant: Core and/or project support, based on needs, co-created with cohort peers.
• Duration: Multi-year support, depending on the availability of funding.
• Purpose: To learn from tailored efforts to strengthen the capacities, sustainability, and impact of community-based and locally led social justice and human rights movements in the selected countries.
Award Amount:
$8,000 – $15,000 per year based on project concept.
How to Submit a Nomination:
Completed and submit a nomination form by 13th June 2025. Please Click Here to access the nomination form.
The nomination statement should include:
• Name and contact information of the nominee (CBO, community activist or movement being nominated).
• Country of operation, and registration status (e.g. registered or not registered) of the nominee.
• A brief description of the nominee’s mission, focus areas, and key achievements.
• A short motivation outlining why the nominee should be considered for the award.
• If an individual is nominating: The name and contact details of the nominator.
• If an organisation is nominating: The name of the organisation, name of the person submitting the nomination on behalf of the organisation, and contact details of the nominator.
Selection Process:
Nominations will be reviewed through a participatory Peer-to-peer Review Panel, in line with the principles of transparency, inclusion, and participatory grant-making. Selected organisations or activists will be invited to submit a full proposal and undergo a capacity and context assessment.
Enquiries:
For more information, contact us at rgondo@southernafricatrust.org and pmadletyna@southernafricatrust.org.