Beginning at the end of last year, an independent consultancy firm undertook a feminist and participatory evaluation of SAAF’s sixth round of funding. This round of funding started in 2022 and is currently supporting 98 organisations around the world.
With feedback from SAAF’s global grantee partners and using our own insights as a funder for almost 20 years, we made a series of changes to the way we work ahead of this new round of funding. It has therefore been very reassuring to see that the measures we put in place to increase accessibility, flexibility, and fairness have been well received by our grantees and other partners.
With appreciation to all the organisations which took part in the evaluation (anonymously of course), we present some of the key findings below.
How does SAAF approach grant-making?
- We do not require grant applicants to have a certain income, to be registered as an organisation, or to have necessarily worked on abortion before.
- We don’t set targets, and we don’t impose log-frames or indicators.
- We don’t have a limit on salaries or organisational costs, and funds can be used for organisational strengthening beyond direct work on abortion rights or access.
- The organisations we provide funding to decide what they want to work on and what progress will look like for them.
- Our reporting is based on storytelling, with grantee partners mostly providing qualitative data.
- We provide tailored capacity building support and make efforts to connect grantee partners both online and offline.
SAAF funding helps organisations to strengthen their capacity.
We’re glad to see that our grantee partners believe that they are supported by SAAF in addition to the funds that they receive. 87% of respondents in the evaluation survey agreed that SAAF had helped strengthen their capacity beyond the immediate needs of the grant.
Our application process is more accessible now.
97% of grantee partners who responded to the survey felt that SAAF clearly communicated its requirements for funding proposals. All those who had received grants from SAAF in the past agreed that the application process had improved since the previous round.
Our grantee partners appreciate that SAAF funding is flexible.
75% of grantee partners viewed SAAF’s funding as more flexible than other funders; 22% viewed it as similar in flexibility.
“Sometimes during implementation things do not go as planned and it becomes necessary to cancel and/or implement different activities. This flexibility by SAAF makes these changes convenient and seamless, thereby allowing us to achieve our goals and objectives.”
SAAF’s support has helped grantee partners secure further funding.
21% of grantee partners surveyed reported that they had received funding from other donors after becoming a SAAF grantee partner. When asked if SAAF’s support had helped attract funding for abortion-related work, 77% said yes. Of those who received funding to work specifically on abortion, 92% said yes.
Taking a chance on smaller/newer organisations pays off.
The evaluation team found that many of the new organisations being funded by SAAF had previously been excluded from accessing grants. Many had not received international/larger grants before:
“SAAF has trusted us with a grant as a young organisation with no experience which has allowed us to do advocacy work openly in our country.”
Detailed interviews showed the benefits of SAAF taking a chance on newly formed groups like Abortion Support South Africa which at the time of applying was not yet a registered entity.
“I knew that SAAF was taking a big risk on us…I immediately felt that SAAF are our partner. I can tell them when I have a problem, and they’ll try to help rather than respond punitively or require more reporting. I don’t have to hide our challenges or failures because it is understood that setbacks are normal and can be part of our success and our learning. SAAF’s attitude informed my own, helping set the tone for how I respond to challenges.”
Victoria Satchwell, Abortion Support South Africa
Being in the SAAF ‘family’ brings community and solidarity.
It can be lonely and challenging to work on a topic as stigmatised as abortion.
97% of respondents agreed that SAAF had supported them in connecting with other SAAF grantee partners.
“The networking opportunities facilitated by SAAF have significantly enhanced our organisation’s work. By connecting with other organisations and experts, we’ve been able to exchange insights, adopt best practices, and form collaborative partnerships.”
SAAF and our partners are impacting the global conversation on abortion.
94% of survey respondents indicated that their profile had been raised in the field of abortion rights through SAAF’s communications support.
All grantee partners said that SAAF’s funding makes a positive difference to abortion work in their country or region, and 94% said they felt it was helping to challenge opposition to abortion where they are.
“SAAF is not just a donor but a driving force for empowerment, justice.”
Grantee partners feel engaged in SAAF’s decision-making.
All respondents agreed with the statement: “SAAF considers its grantee partners’ voices in its work.”
“SAAF did not impose on us, but they believed in our work and supported us without dictating and, so far, our working relationship has been so healthy, and one that has made us … improve our capacity as an organisation.”
We will continue to listen to the organisations who receive SAAF funding and make positive changes to the way we work.
While it is of course encouraging to see that overall, the organisations we fund are happy with the support we are providing, there is always room for improvement. The SAAF team will now take on the recommendations and insights from the evaluation report and try our best to provide funding which is accessible, effective and sustainable.
By the SAAF team, with thanks to Singizi Consulting Africa for carrying out the evaluation, and SAAF grantee partners for taking part and sharing their insights.
Photo credit: SAAF grantee partners Women Rise for Change, Rwanda and DPAC Fronteira, Brazil.