Gender Links promotes the sustainability of WVL-SA grantees by strengthening their capacity through training in governance, finance, and strategic planning. Core and multi-year funding supports long-term stability, while guidance on fundraising helps diversify income sources. GL fosters peer learning and visibility through knowledge-sharing platforms and connects grantees to broader advocacy and funding networks. Leadership development and succession planning—especially for young women—are key to ensuring resilience. These efforts empower women’s rights organisations to grow, adapt, and lead lasting change beyond the life of the programme.

 “I want to sincerely thank you for the Gender Links grant and the structured systems and procedures that came with it. This experience has truly broadened our perspective on leadership and governance structures at FEW. The due diligence meeting you guided us through has been invaluable, and we have adopted it as a best practice for engaging with our donors. 

We are also pleased to share some exciting news with you thanks to the insights and learnings from this process, we have successfully secured R4.5 million in funding from The Other Foundation, allowing us to implement a similar program within the SADC region and Soweto Pride in SA. 

Your teachings have been instrumental in this journey, and i am grateful for the session held during the onboarding (Panel on Key Gender Links Policies that form part of your contract). This will significantly help us in structuring ourselves in a way that aligns with donor requirements and supports our long-term growth plan. 

Once again, thank you for your invaluable support and guidance we truly appreciate it.”  

Nomsa Manzini  – Grants Manager, Forum for the Empowerment of Women