1.) Strengthening Capacities for Transforming Relationships and Exercising Rights (SCAPE) Programme (See website: Scape)

The Strengthening Capacities for Transforming Relationships and Exercising Rights (SCAPE) programme is an innovative Civil Society capacity building programme, coordinated by CARE South Africa-Lesotho and implemented in partnership with Tlhavhama Training Initiative in the Limpopo Province, the Eastern Cape NGO Coalition, Khanya-MRC and Idasa. Since its inception in 1999, the programme aims to impact positively on poverty eradication and the realization of rights through strengthening civil society in South Africa.

SCAPE aims to strengthen the legitimacy and credibility of civil society with the communities in which they work, enabling CSOs to effectively articulate the needs and rights of these communities. While most implementation occurs in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo provinces, CARE works closely with a number of national organisations and networks through the provision of specialist Organisational Development services and training in Livelihoods and Rights Based Approaches.

SCAPE sees civil society as essential for informing people about and assisting them to exercise their rights. Civil society is uniquely placed to add an independent voice to many debates on key issues and policies affecting people's lives. However, to fulfill these important roles, organisations need a clear vision, the necessary skills and to function effectively as well managed organisations able to collaborate with/influence other stakeholders, especially government. The CSOs currently engaged with SCAPE have become increasingly aware of the challenges facing the sector and the need to address them in order to have a significant impact on poverty eradication. See website: Scape

2.) WHELL Project

The Water Services, Health & Livelihoods Project (WHELL) is a new five year (2004 – 2009) programme housed within CARE South Africa - Lesotho's Governance and Democracy theme. WHELL operates nationally and in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. The programme is working with partner organisations, including a national water services NGO the Mvula Trust and other local organisations (including water services NGOs, research institutions etc), to develop and promote replicable and locally accountable sustainable water and sanitation services that mainstream HIV/AIDS and gender equity. The programme is being funded by AusAID under their Australian Partnerships with African Communities Programme. The objectives of the programme are:

• Understanding linkages between gender, HIV and sustainable water and sanitation systems and promoting uptake in policy and its implementation at different levels
• Developing workable 'models' to help translate policy into implementation systems
• Strengthening Civil Society and Government institutions and the linkages between them to support sustainable water and sanitation services