Building A New Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund – CEO

During 2015, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund (NMCF) undertook a strategic review of its five year plan, the path we have been on for the last several years, and what is needed to pave the way to a successful future.

We are emboldened by the progress we have made and are happy to announce that consistent execution on strategic undertakings has led to many of our pre-agreed goals being met. These include building a child rights movement and active citizen participation on child related issues. The strategy particularly focussed on nurturing, protection, connectedness and safety of our children.
As we continue the journey and in line with our culture and practice we undertook a research  to determine the best positioning for addressing the most pressing issues facing children.  In the process the Fund was ably assisted by Deloitte that offered its professional services pro bono.  The exercise identified critical challenges facing children and their families. The challenges that were identified included Housing and Sanitation, Child Survival and Malnutrition, Child Abuse, Youth unemployment and Children Living with disabilities.

A new five year strategy for the period 2016-2021 was adopted by the board of trustees. The strategy focuses on three primary areas, namely:

• Child Survival, Development and Thriving: The intervention aims to improve the survival of children under the age of three and enhance their potential to develop and thrive.

• Child Protection and Safety with focus on Safe Schools: This intervention aims to promote, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders and role players, a safe learning and teaching schooling environment and experience. We believe that the school provide a focal point for inculcating the values of child safety and protection in homes and society.

• Youth Think Tanks: The intervention sees young people as change agents themselves and aims to promote youth agency in the promotion of child survival development and safety in schools.
The adoption of the new strategy, informed by the organisational review, will ensure that the NMCF will enhance its impact and deliver greater value to all of its stakeholders. The review was further motivated by the desire to achieve administrative and operational efficiencies thus becoming more nimble, agile and an effective organisation at all times.

The last operational strategy while commendable was not sustainable in the long term especially when taking into consideration the deepening crisis facing children and their families as well as challenges related to raising sufficient financial resources to sustain the institution and its programs in a changing operational environment of the sector.

We will continue to invest in our people and challenge them to identify ways to enhance the Fund’s flexibility and position NMCF as a strategic partner to you, our stakeholders. We will continue to strive to achieve a healthy and optimum balance between the desirable administrative costs in relation to the benefits accruing to communities.  We will further strive to be nimble, agile, accessible, and as responsive as we are proactive.
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We have had deep and thoughtful consultations with all staff in an effort to hopefully, minimise and mitigate any adverse effects of the changes that we are introducing. We are aware of our responsibility towards society and our constant desire to push for better effectiveness and efficiencies gives us the strength we need to navigate and continue to position ourselves in the best interest of the child.

We hope to continue to keep you informed and updated about our operational Imperatives as we evolve and grow. Please note that as the result of the organizational change the following senior managers, who have served the organization and the sector with great distinction have now left us.  We know that each of them will remain great advocates in changing the way society treats children and youth. 

These are:
Our Programs Director: Moipone Buda Ramatlo
Senior Manager Programs:    Nzacelo Mlilo
Corporate Communications:  Oupa Ngwenya
Human Resources Manager:  Seja Tsanwani

Our new Senior Team needs no introduction as these are individuals that you are familiar with and many of you have worked with for a long time.

These are:
Shadi  Nyokong : Specialist, Child Survival, Development and Thriving
Mampe  Ntsedi:  Specialist Child Safety and Protection
Tsietsi Mokhele: Officer, Youth Think Tanks

Further note that the Request For Proposals (RFP) for 2016/17 will be published in the month of June 2016. Your support and understanding will be extremely valuable.

“Our children are the rock on which our future will be built, our greatest asset as a nation. They will be the leaders of our country, the creators of our national wealth, those who care for and protect our people “– Madiba

Signed:
Sibongile Mkhabela
Chief Executive Officer