Our Backbone Role Enhances Coordination and Effectiveness in Child-Focused Initiatives

In South Africa, we have a wealth of excellent policies and grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges our communities face. From government policies to community-led projects, the intent and effort to create positive change is evident. However, there’s a critical gap that often hinders the full potential of these initiatives: coordination. This is where the DO MORE FOUNDATION steps in, playing a vital backbone role in the collective impact model.

Our role as a backbone organization is not just about supporting initiatives; it’s about driving the agenda, managing communications neutrally, and ensuring sustainable funding. We fill the critical coordination gap, linking policies with grassroots action, and mobilizing resources through Corporate Social Investment funding. By leveraging our unique position, we ensure that efforts are not duplicated, that resources are used efficiently, and that the collective impact is greater than the sum of individual efforts for young children in South Africa.

One of the most important lessons we’ve learned on our journey is the need for adaptability. Flexibility is key for a backbone organization like ours to respond to changing circumstances and the evolving needs of the network we support. We operate from a standard basket of services that encompasses a range of offerings designed to advance the agenda for young children. Our partners use this comprehensive basket as a guide, tailoring it with their own programs to align with their expertise. This approach not only allows us to maintain relevance and effectiveness but also ensures that we leverage the unique strengths of our partners while remaining focused on our mission. Whether it’s adjusting strategies to align with new policies or reallocating resources to where they’re most needed, our ability to adapt and support a diverse array of initiatives underscores our commitment to driving impactful outcomes.

Building and maintaining strong relationships is another cornerstone of our work. Collaboration is the heartbeat of the collective impact model, and it’s sustained through trust and mutual respect. At DMF, we invest in relationship-building, understanding that these connections are what hold the network together. By fostering strong partnerships at all levels and utilizing platforms such as Young Child Forums, deep dive sessions, and technical committees, we bring government departments, caregivers, and practitioners to the same table with a unified agenda for young children. We also deepen our relationships with impact partners through our Synergy Summit, which provides an opportunity for more in-depth engagement and strategic alignment. This inclusive approach ensures that everyone involved remains committed to the shared goals, even as challenges arise, and that diverse perspectives contribute to our collective efforts.

Continuous learning is also integral to our success. As a backbone organization, we recognize that we don’t have all the answers and that the landscape is constantly shifting. Engaging in continuous learning and reflection allows us to adapt and improve our practices, ensuring that we are always moving towards greater effectiveness. Whether through formal evaluations or informal feedback, we are committed to learning from our experiences and those of our partners. To enhance this process, we have identified the need for a Community of Practice (COP) to facilitate easier sharing of our learnings. While we have been conducting quarterly deep dive sessions, we believe the COP will make these insights more accessible and foster greater collaboration. Additionally, we are connected to broader networks that help us continually expand our knowledge base and connections.

Finally, the proper allocation of resources is crucial. In a collective impact model, the success of collaborative efforts depends on how well resources are managed. At DMF, we take this responsibility seriously, ensuring that time, personnel, and funding are allocated in a way that supports the collective goals efficiently. We act as a coordinating mechanism, making sure that resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact and that no effort goes to waste.

By filling the coordination gap, driving the agenda, and mobilizing resources, we are on a mission to see excellent policies and grassroots initiatives reach their full potential. Our commitment to adaptability, strong relationships, and continuous learning fuels our mission. Stay tuned as we continue to innovate and elevate our collective efforts for young children as a backbone organization.