South Africa: Forum for the Empowerment of Women - Strengthening Foundations for Sustainable Growth
The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) has strengthened its governance, compliance and financial management systems through an intentional organisational reform process. These changes have positioned the organisation for long-term sustainability, improved donor confidence and enhanced accountability across its operations.
The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) in South Africa undertook a major organisational strengthening process to improve its sustainability and readiness for donor compliance. The organisation recognised that long-term sustainability required stronger systems, clearer governance processes and a renewed focus on accountability. FEW began its journey with honest internal reflection, acknowledging gaps in compliance, governance and financial management.
Through a programme called The Big Room, FEW created a structured space for reviewing its systems and identifying risks. Previously, the organisation was fiscally hosted and did not have fully developed systems for financial planning, donor reporting or internal controls. Activities were sometimes carried out without alignment to budgets or donor requirements.
The organisation initiated a “cleaning the house” process, engaging in restorative conversations with donors to rebuild trust and understand expectations. At the same time, the finance unit was restructured and strengthened. Key staff were appointed to take responsibility for budgeting, expenditure oversight, financial reporting and reconciliations. These measures improved internal coordination and strengthened day-to-day financial governance.
Through its engagement with Gender Links, FEW learned the importance of investing in strong internal systems as a prerequisite for resilience and growth. The organisation became more intentional about long-term planning, financial discipline and internal accountability. Governance and financial management shifted from being administrative tasks to strategic priorities.
A leadership collaboration with Nomtriam Consultants, alongside the Executive Director and Board Members, ensured clear roles, strengthened decision-making structures and improved governance. Staff engagement through consultations, dialogues and training created collective ownership of the changes.
As a result of this ongoing reform, FEW transitioned from being fiscally hosted to managing its own funds, strengthened compliance with SARS and other legal requirements, introduced safeguarding policies, strengthened board functionality, implemented anti-corruption and sexual harassment policies and developed a monitoring and evaluation framework. The organisation now implements activities based on approved annual plans and budgets, reducing risk and improving planning.
These reforms have significantly enhanced FEW’s credibility and sustainability. The organisation is now able to confidently engage donors, demonstrate impact and maintain stronger financial controls. FEW is intentionally building systems that support long-term resilience, ensuring it can continue advocating for women’s rights and feminist leadership in South Africa.
FEW will sustain these changes through continued investment in governance, financial management and accountability. Regular reviews, staff training and board oversight will ensure that improvements remain embedded. Peer learning networks, collaboration and shared learning across organisations will help maintain growth and strengthen the broader civil society sector.