FOIP's Capacity Building Project commences

The pilot project FOIP Capacity Building Project is a new initiative of SAHA's Freedom of Information Programme. This project will form the initial stages of a long-term strategy aimed at building the capacity of the community-based sector to understand and utilise PAIA as a strategic advocacy tool, giving effect to core aspects of the recommendations set out in a SAHA-commissioned feasibility study carried out in July 2007.

In view of the feasibility study recommendations, FOIP has selected two non-government organisations (NGOs) in the transitional justice and gender-based violence sectors to engage with in the initial stage of this project, namely: the Khulumani Support Group (transitional justice sector); and the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre (gender-based violence sector). Both of these NGOs work closely with a network of community based organizations and structures and are committed to engaging with SAHA for the purpose of this project.

Following the success of this pilot project it is anticipated that FOIP will work with more organisations in the community-based sector in view of the long-term objective to empower community-based organisations to understand and utilise this important legislation.

FOIP is extremely grateful to the the Ford Foundation for its support.

For further information about this project, please contact:

Charlotte Young
Research and Outreach Officer
Freedom of Information Programme
t +27 11 717 1941
f +27 11 717 1964
e foip@saha.org.za