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Social matters continued
organisations, which touch peoples’ lives
countrywide. There has been great
progress in achieving developmental
objectives with the projects, and the
group believes it is making a difference
in people’s lives through these long-term
partnerships.
The foundation has committed itself for
three years to its selected projects to set
a proper foundation for their growth. Its
contract expires at the end of 2004.
Since inception, the foundation has
contributed R9,3 million in monetary
terms and to deserving organisations.
The foundation has recently started a
process of revisiting its priorities to be
even closer to national development
priorities and the mainstream imperatives
of our business. Our future is closely
tied to the sustainable development of
communities in South Africa and success
largely depends on a climate of social
and economic prosperity. The foundation
is therefore committed to the
communities it serves, and its CSI
programme is based on principles of
partnership, entrepreneurship, growth
and community development, while
realising that it cannot be all things
to all people.
The foundation is an acknowledged
pioneer in areas of social investment
where no other funders are willing to
go initially. As an organisation, it is
characterised by being entrepreneurial
and richly endowed with a pioneering
spirit. It has a set of principles and values
which rigorously govern the way business
is done:
Creativity and innovation – continually
exploring new avenues to be unique,
bold and different in achieving its
objectives.
Partnership and cooperation –
promoting strategic partnerships to
ensure sustainability. Internally, the
foundation works, wherever possible and
without prejudicing the integrity of any
project or programme, with ABIL’s
marketing and communications
African Bank Investments Limited 84
departments for the greater benefit of
our organisation.
Credibility and integrity – valuing,
acknowledging and protecting the name,
image and dignity of our beneficiaries.
Impact and value – the role of ABIL is to
create growth and therefore any
involvement by the foundation
encourages values and behaviours that
correspond to ABIL’s own values and
impact on the quality of people’s lives
and society in general.
Goodwill – committed to long-term
working relationships dedicated to
improving the lives of the marginalised.
Interdependence – programmes, where
possible, undertake to work towards an
integrated and complementary
philosophy, without compromising the
uniqueness and independence of
individual partner organisations.
The foundation’s funds are spread
across three sectors, namely arts,
tertiary education and crafts/
entrepreneurship. In line with the
partnership approach, the foundation is
actively involved in its projects, serving
on the boards of trustees or on working
committees of its project partners, giving
input to ensure delivery of
developmental objectives.
The foundation invests in project
partners whose work promises to be
sustainable financially and from capacity
and skills viewpoints.
Below are the general criteria for funding
projects. The criteria is used when new
projects are evaluated.
Fundable activities
These will include programmes and
projects that:
indicate social and economic
development for beneficiaries
promote human rights and
gender issues
promote self-reliance and
entrepreneurship
indicate a high regard for
community participation, ownership
and accountability
indicate clear achievable objectives
and key performance indicators
demonstrate transparency and the
capacity to manage
disclose other funding sources
indicate the feasibility of the active
involvement of African Bank
Foundation in a long-term,
mutually-beneficial partnership
adhere to the following principles:
– Change and transformation
– People participation
– Use of local resources and
skills
– Integrity of creation
– Human dignity
– Trust and shared responsibility.
Main non-fundable activities
Projects that are the responsibility
of national, provincial or local
government which includes building
schools, offices, water and
sanitation, road works, etc
Organisations with a history of
misuse of funds and without the
proper financial systems and a
business plan in place
Political organisations and political
activities
Unions and union activities such as
rallies, local and regional
conferences, etc
Denominational activities
Activities that cause environmental
degradation.
Project partners
Beadwork
ABIL is a proud custodian of the
project to repatriate southern African
beadwork from abroad, a century
or more after it was taken from this
region.
Over the years, museums in southern
Africa have accumulated collections
of beadwork, but these institutions
have seldom had the resources to
systematically collect and display
beadwork in a manner appropriate
to its importance in the history of art
and culture on the subcontinent.