CSO Mentoring and Strengthening Program

About this program

Purpose: To contribute to the development of an effective and united voice of civil society in KwaZulu Natal, through supporting and capacitating the KZN CSO Coalition.

Why?

Civil society remains fragmented and has been unable to effectively engage government as partners about the implementation of a transformational development agenda. As a result, the voice of CSOs has been relegated to a few co-opted organisations that often speak on our behalf without a mandate.

How?

  • Hosting an annual conference that brings CSOs together to talk about
  • Building partnerships between CSOs and government at all levels
  • Debate critical policy issues affecting civil society
  • Supporting the network of CSOs in the province through providing a space for dialogue and discussion at DDP
  • Offering capacity building programmes to strengthen the work of members of the coalition
July 19, 2024

DDP Local Governance Learning and Advocacy Network Workshop

On July 18, 2024, the Democracy Development Program’s Local Governance Learning and Advocacy Network (DDP LGLAN) hosted a pivotal workshop at the Edward Hotel in Durban. […]
May 28, 2023

Understanding South African Voters

The Democracy Development Programme  hosted a workshop titled: A Reflection on the Nature of electoral participation, and Interrogation of the Typical South African Voter and their […]
May 12, 2023

Political Parties Workshop: Understanding Coalition Governments in South Africa

The Democracy Development Programme hosted a workshop titled: A Reflection on the State of South African Coalitions: Building for 2024. The workshop aimed to take a […]
March 27, 2023

Local Government: Lobbying and Advocacy Workshop Series

Local government is the sphere of government closest to the people. Many basic services are delivered by local municipalities and local ward councilors are the politicians […]
March 1, 2023

DDP Fundraising Workshop

The Democracy Development Program hosted a 2-day Fundraising workshop at Elangeni Hotel on 27-28 February 2023. This workshop was attended by civil society fundraisers and was […]
November 25, 2022

Factchecking and Verification workshop

Democracy Development Program in partnership with Africa Check hosted a 2 day fact-checking and verification workshop for journalists and bloggers in KwaZulu Natal. The workshop was […]
May 20, 2022

District Development Model workshop

The DDP hosted a 2 day District Development Model workshop for civil society practitioners, political parties and ordinary citizens at Elangeni Hotel on the 17-18 May […]
April 19, 2022

Asset-based community development workshop

DDP hosted the Asset-based community development workshop for political parties in Durban at Elangeni Hotel on the 12-13th April 2022. The workshop was facilitated by Khanya […]
April 7, 2022

Participatory Municipal Budgeting workshop

DDP hosted the Participatory Municipal Budgeting workshop at Elangeni Hotel on 5-6 April 2022. This workshop looked at the Local government municipal systems act 32 of […]
February 16, 2022

DDP inaugural women parliamentarians workshop

Understanding the role of parliament, parliamentarians, and parliamentary committees  The Democracy Development Program hosted a day capacity-building workshop for members of the KwaZulu Natal Legislature Women’s […]
October 6, 2021

Observers Refresher Workshop

The Democracy Development Program will be conducting an election observer refresher training.  Election observers play a crucial role in ensuring that the elections are transparent, free, […]
September 23, 2021

Youth Workshop: Voter Education, Social Cohesion, Volunteerism, Community Service, Spirit of Ubuntu and Patriotism Amongst Young People

  The National Youth Development Agency invited DDP to partner with in the above outlined workshop, which was done on the 21st of September 2021. It […]
September 20, 2021

District Development Model Workshop

The Democracy Development Program hosted a 2 day District Development Model Workshop (DDM) unpacking the role of Civil Society at Elangeni Hotel in Durban on 16-17 […]
May 26, 2021

Mobilizing Citizens towards the Local Government Elections

The Local government act and the municipal systems act both enshrines the importance of an active citizenry that can fully participate in the political sphere, however, […]
May 19, 2021

Ethical Leadership and Good Governance: Towards an Ethical and Development-Oriented Public Services

The National Development Plan argued that ethical leadership and good governance are the cornerstone to creating a state that is capable of delivering developmental outcomes to […]
March 1, 2021

Communications for effective political campaigning.

New digital technologies, including social media, create a new paradigm in political campaigns. Movements powered by social media have toppled governments and helped others to win […]
February 26, 2021

DDP and Migration Project: Journalism Training

DDP and The Migration Project recently partnered with Internews on the Durban leg of their week-long media training workshops for journalists from different parts of South […]
September 23, 2020

Co-Production in Local Communities

The Democracy Development Program hosted a Webinar on Co-Production in Local Community on the 22nd September 2020. This engagement was delivered by Dr. Dirk Brand an […]
September 10, 2020

Policing and Human Rights webinar

DDP in partnership with Africa Unite hosted a Virtual Webinar unpacking Police violence and accountability. This engagement  was hosted on the 09th September 2020.  
August 26, 2020

Repositioning Local Government Finance Towards Improved Service Delivery

It is a well-known fact that most municipalities in the country have serious financial problems, which inter alia contribute to bad or no service delivery.  The […]