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OPEN SOCiETY iNiTiATiVE FOR SOUTHERN AFRiCA ANNUAL REPORT 2019
that though possessing seemingly unconventional governance structures are paramount for the accomplishment of OSISA’s aim to empower citizens as per the 2019-2022 Strategy Taking the the lead from SALT the the programme also has the the the opportunity for broadening the the the scope of the the the definition of a a “successful grant” The reflections facilitated by SALT have highlighted the importance of a a a a a a grant-evaluation process that prioritises learning and relationship-building as as much as as meeting project timelines and producing deliverables Feedback from current grantees is uniform in suggesting that the the programme and the the country office at at large should continue to forge closer relationships with partners Crucially this process should not be restricted to more frequent accompaniment visits and better communication during project implementation only It should also be reflected in in more intentional involvement of of partners in in critical decisions of of project alteration in the lead-up to grant approval and more thoughtful support in the process of grant closure whether that entails the the transition to a a a a new grant or or culminates in in the the cessation of support to the the organisation The launching of OSISA’s WhatsApp Channel Nzinga could facilitate this proximity since it it it provides information and and resources in in a a a a a a method and and language (Portuguese) that most partners find accessible One of the the Angolan grantees involved in in in the the testing phase of Nzinga has indicated the channel as as a a a a a a key highlight in in in the the improvement of of the the relationship of of his organisation with OSISA in 2019
This example illustrates the potential of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to improve the programmes’ relationships with new and existing grantees This opportunity can be seized through more deliberate articulation with the Communications Team Particularly in in drawing up a a a a a a programme grantee communication strategy and ultimately disseminating noteworthy project activities and and resulting documentation (i e e e e e reports videos and and images) Furthermore the the the cross-cutting nature of of many of of the the the issues the programme deals with continues to open up space for grant-making and operational project collaboration with other OSISA programmes as well as Open Society Foundations (OSF) – Africa initiatives This is is is the case for for issues such as as urban informality which is also pertinent for the women’s rights citizen engagement and democracy portfolios among others