Given that early childhood forms the foundation for an individual’s entire life and that early deprivation has an irrevocable impact on a child’s brain and body, improving the circumstances of the 11.1 million South African children living below the poverty line is key to building a thriving future generation. It is for this reason that the Do More Foundation (DMF) positions young children and their caregivers at the heart of its social and community development.
Established as an independent NPO in 2017 by South African food manufacturer RCL Foods, the DMF aims to improve the lives of young children across South Africa, with the understanding that improving the life of a young child has a positive knock-on impact for the household and, in turn, the wider community.
“The foundation takes the view that addressing the complex systemic problems with which South African young children – from conception to five years old – are faced, demands integrated and collaborative solutions because no one organisation can solve these complex issues. Collaborative partnerships are not only at the core of our organisation’s theory of change, but collaboration is also a principle and value baked into the fabric of our organisation,” notes Warren Farrer, CEO of DMF.
To this end, DMF works with like-minded partners across the public, private and nonprofit sectors to pool resources, ideas and capabilities to address the many challenges young children in targeted communities are facing.
The value of backbone support organisations
The DMF has positioned itself as a ‘backbone support organisation’ within a collective impact framework since 2019, employing staff with the specific skills to create and manage collective impact. It facilitates stakeholder partnerships and coordinates efforts towards a common agenda. This collective impact model, which it has called the ‘Everyone Gets to PLAY’ (EGTP) model, allows the foundation to leverage the respective strengths and resources of its partners in the interest of sustainable, large-scale systemic change.
There is often little appreciation for the time required to coordinate collaborative efforts and this can become the reason collaborative efforts fail. While the DMF was not initially established for this purpose, the necessity of an organisation to take on this role became evident and inspired its positioning as a backbone support organisation.
DMF as a collaborative coordinator
The organisation’s network comprises more than 260 private, public and nonprofit sector partners. DMF’s long-term, systems-level EGTP model has allowed the foundation to guide its partners towards sustainable, community-owned solutions. Within this model, households and communities are included as key developmental partners.
The foundation supports its partners to better meet the needs of young children by bringing the National Integrated Early Childhood Development Policy (2015) to life for real children in real communities. This helps meet the holistic needs of young children reflected in the ‘basket of services’ including child and maternal health, nutrition and food security, early learning and stimulation, child safety and protection, infrastructure services, caregiver support and the first 1 000 days, among other needs.
DMF seeks to fill the critical coordination gap, linking policies with grassroots action and mobilising resources to support its vision of creating better tomorrows for young children and their families. By leveraging its unique position, DMF ensures that efforts are not duplicated, resources are used efficiently and the collective impact is greater than the sum of individual efforts for young children in South Africa.
Partnerships for learning
Collaboration is the heartbeat of the collective impact EGTP model, and it is sustained through trust and mutual respect. DMF invests in relationship-building, understanding that connections are what holds the network together. By fostering strong partnerships at all levels and using platforms such as Young Child Forums, deep-dive sessions and technical committees, DMF brings government departments, caregivers and practitioners to the same table with a unified agenda for young children.
DMF also deepens its relationships with implementation partners through its 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 vision, even as challenges arise, and that diverse perspectives contribute to their collective efforts.
“We have implemented the EGTP model in eight South African communities and witnessed how communities mobilised to identify early childhood development needs. We have then linked them with partners to activate a basket of services so that the basic needs of young children and their caregivers can be met. Engaging in continuous learning and reflection allows us to adapt and improve our practices, ensuring that we are always moving towards greater impact. Whether through formal evaluations or informal feedback, we are committed to learning from our experiences and those of our partners,” says Farrer.
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Source: The original version of this article was published in the Trialogue Business in Society Handbook 2024 (27th edition).
