We partnered in a multi-year South Africa effort to help improve quality and quantity of care for the increasing numbers of orphaned and vulnerable children.
In partnership with Convene Venture Philanthropy, the Synergos Institute, and the South African Department of Social Development, we created a cross-sector leadership development programme to contribute to improving the quality and quantity of care for children in South Africa. It is called LINC: the Leadership and Innovation Network for Collaboration. LINC engages senior civil servants of key government departments, heads of the major civil society organizations active for children, directors of corporate responsibility in some of the country’s largest companies, and leading academics, international donors, and community leaders.
In November 2007 we ran the first “Innovation Lab” with 60 key national leaders working in this field. Today, LINC is an ongoing fellowship that facilitates collaboration, innovation, leadership, and systemic approaches. The fellows participate in a series of activities, including innovation lab workshops, networking events, and individual leadership coaching. The fellowship has over the past year come together in four whole-system workshops. Innovation teams are working in five key areas, with a focus on complementing other co-ordinating bodies and activities in the sector. An innovation fund has been created to support the teams.
