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22 July 2019

HSRC signs MoU with National Foundations Dialogue Initiative

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Press Release

To formalise and strengthen collaboration opportunities in areas of research development and public dialogue, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the National Foundations Dialogue Initiative (NFDI) will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday, 22 July 2019 at 11h00.

The two organisations have agreed to sign a partnership agreement to collaborate in hosting national dialogues that explore how best to foster communication across different spheres (for example, those of the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary; government and civil society; the public and private sectors) within the framework of the Constitution.

According to the HSRC’s Executive Director of the Democracy, Governance and Service Delivery (DGSD) research programme, Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller, the HSRC seeks to collaborate with the NFDI and dialogue participants in a way that informs and empowers communities with topical data to equip citizens to engage with organs of state and other authorities and institutions that are accountable to communities.

“One of our key aims is to facilitate a process of citizen engagement with local government to improve service delivery,” she added.

While the HSRC is a statutory research institution within the Republic of South Africa, the NFDI is a partnership among various foundations, which include the Chief Albert Luthuli, FW de Klerk, Jakes Gerwel, Thabo Mbeki, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Trust, Helen Suzman, Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy, Umlambo and Kgalema Motlanthe Foundations.
These foundations bear the names of illustrious South Africans, past and present, who have dedicated their lives to the achievement of freedom and democracy in our land.

The MoU will be signed at the HSRC Building, Pretoria CBD.

The media are invited to attend as follows:
Date                :    Monday 22 July 2019
Time                :    11h00
Venue                :    CEO Boardroom, 14th Floor, HSRC Building,
134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria CBD

For more information or to set up interviews, please contact Adziliwi Nematandani (HRSC), 0827659191, email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za or Yasmean Desai (NFDI), 0846802846 email: yasmean@nfdi.org.za

Notes to the editor

About the NFDI

The central aim of NFDI is to promote earnest dialogue and consensus building; the social and political diversity of the Founding Member foundations serves as a mirror of our country.

The NFDI is convinced that unity in diversity is the basis upon which South Africans of different backgrounds and persuasions can reflect on their experience of this nation’s development since the dawn of our new democracy, understanding our obligation to face our problems, challenges, fears and perceptions about one another to build the South Africa of our dreams as defined in the Constitution.

About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.

Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences.

The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organisations and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.