Welcome to OSF-SA
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) is committed to promoting the values, institutions, and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society.
We are part of the Open Society Foundations network which includes these other African organisations: OSISA, OSIWA, and OSIEA.
Our vision is for a just, equitable and inclusive South Africa where the rights enshrined in our Constitution are protected and realised. We are committed to utilising our assets and resources to empower people to actively participate in the democratic process through our grant making, advocacy, research convening and communications roles; and to help the public, private and civil society sectors work together to advance socioeconomic progress and social cohesion.
Our current focus areas include Environmental Rights, Civil and Political Rights, Social and Economic Rights and supporting Media Freedom and Digital Rights.
OSF-Africa is now accepting proposals from organisations working in the areas of Expression and Participation, Security and Rights, Accountability and Justice, Opportunity and Equity, Women’s Rights and Special Initiatives aimed at re-invigorating pan-African civil society, decolonizing academia and research, and advancing African influence globally.
Deadline for submissions: Friday, 13 May 2022.
See Call for Proposals for more details.
In 2018 the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) celebrates 25 years of grant-making in South Africa.
In the past 25 years, we have promoted human rights and constitutionalism to support a democratic and open society in South Africa. We will continue to do so.
To commemorate this important milestone, and in keeping with our transformation objectives, OSF-SA will be featuring the important work of our grantees over the last 25 years. We will also be celebrating young and emerging civil society voices and leaders as we look to the next 25 years of our democracy.
We are looking forward to sharing more information about a number of #OpenSocietySA25 events and initiatives.
OSF News
An Update on the Transformation of the Open Society Foundations in Africa
The transformation of the Open Society Foundations in Africa is progressing rapidly as the Africa Regional Office and our four…Read more
An Update from the ED: Departures and New Arrivals
For the past two years we have been talking about changes at OSF-SA. First, we discussed the strategy we were…Read more
Advancing Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow
As OSF-SA transitions to working in a more combined and collaborative way with the other OSF entities in Africa, colleagues…Read more
South Africa as a model for climate justice
Executive Director Bulelwa Ngewana shares details on OSF-SA’s climate work as well as her impressions of the UN Climate Change…Read more
New Mural to Raise COVID-19 Awareness Towers Over Philippi
Street artist Nadia Fisher, aka Nardstar, recently completed the huge mural “Ubuntu” as part of the Open Society Foundation for…Read more![Vaccine Justice Convening [17 June 2021]](https://www.osf.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Vaccine-Justice.jpg "Vaccine Justice Convening [17 June 2021]")
Vaccine Justice Convening [17 June 2021]
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) in conjunction with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism held a discussion…Read more
Africa Day – An integrated Africa, is an Africa that can work for us all
When the Organisation of African Unity (later the African Union) was established on 25 May 1963, it was an ambitious…Read more
A shot in the arm and an update on our strategy
In addition to our COVID-19 grantmaking response which initially focused on providing emergency relief to organisations most in need and…Read more
Covid Stories – Submit a proposal for a R50 000 short film grant
We’re inviting proposals for three grants of R50 000 each, for the production of Covid Stories, 3-5 minute documentary short…Read more
A kinder year
The new coronavirus has wreaked destruction on a massive scale in South Africa, as in the rest of the world.…Read more
Looking back at the longest year
It is hard to believe that little more than a year has passed since I first joined OSF-SA. I smile…Read more
A strategy to counter voter apathy
Earlier this year, when we first began discussing the development of our 2021-2024 strategy, we realised that during this period,…Read more
Putting women and children at the centre of all we do
I started writing this letter last month, but was unable to complete it as my team and I had to…Read more
Communities of the Kalahari Photography Showcase
The Communities of the Kalahari Photography Showcase launches the blog, kalaharicommunities.tumblr.com, which includes an accompanying virtual and community-based programmeRead more
Supporting solidarity with journalists
Death, arrest and attack, these are some of the challenges facing journalists on the continent and around the world. In…Read more
We need strategic action
Heading up a philanthropic foundation during the toxic brew of COVID-19, which has brought a health, humanitarian and economic crisis…Read more
We all lose when we exclude refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
As Covid-19 diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics become available, we must ensure equal, and affordable access for not only citizens, but…Read more
Human response to a human problem
When my team and I first began tracking the new coronavirus as it spread across the globe, we thought about…Read more
Colloquium on Violence Against Women and Children in South Africa
Delegates from the violence against women and children (VAWC) sector(s), development agencies and parastatals congregated at an OSF-SA Colloquium held…Read more
Defining Relationships
I’ve received a flood of emails since sending out my last email in January. Some writers offered words of encouragement;…Read more
Welcome to OSF-SA
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) is committed to promoting the values, institutions, and practices of an open, non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, civil society.
We are part of the Open Society Foundations network which includes these other African originations: OSISA, OSIWA, OSIEA.
Our focus areas include the Information, Expression, and Accountability Programme, the Justice, Equality, and Rights Programme, and the Research and Advocacy Unit.
In 2018, OSF-SA is celebrating 25 years in South Africa. Watch this space! To find out more about our work, read our latest fact sheet.
Twice a year, OSF-SA considers applications for funding that align with our strategic priorities. Applications must be submitted to OSF-SA through one of our two grant cycles. We are unable to consider applications outside of these cycles.
Before considering applying for funding from OSF-SA, please spend some time to familiarise yourself with our strategic grant-making focus areas, selection criteria, grant cycles and grant-making process.
OSF-SA’s 2018 funding cycles are now closed.
In 2018 the Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) celebrates 25 years of grant-making in South Africa.
In the past 25 years, we have promoted human rights and constitutionalism to support a democratic and open society in South Africa. We will continue to do so.
To commemorate this important milestone, and in keeping with our transformation objectives, the OSF will be featuring the important work of our grantees over the last 25 years. We will also be celebrating young and emerging civil society voices and leaders as we look to the next 25 years of our democracy.
We are looking forward to sharing more information about a number of #OpenSocietySA25 events and initiatives.
OSF News
An Update on the Transformation of the Open Society Foundations in Africa
The transformation of the Open Society Foundations in Africa is progressing rapidly as the Africa Regional Office and our four…Read moreAn Update from the ED: Departures and New Arrivals
For the past two years we have been talking about changes at OSF-SA. First, we discussed the strategy we were…Read moreAdvancing Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow
As OSF-SA transitions to working in a more combined and collaborative way with the other OSF entities in Africa, colleagues…Read moreSouth Africa as a model for climate justice
Executive Director Bulelwa Ngewana shares details on OSF-SA’s climate work as well as her impressions of the UN Climate Change…Read moreNew Mural to Raise COVID-19 Awareness Towers Over Philippi
Street artist Nadia Fisher, aka Nardstar, recently completed the huge mural “Ubuntu” as part of the Open Society Foundation for…Read moreVaccine Justice Convening [17 June 2021]
The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) in conjunction with the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism held a discussion…Read moreAfrica Day – An integrated Africa, is an Africa that can work for us all
When the Organisation of African Unity (later the African Union) was established on 25 May 1963, it was an ambitious…Read moreA shot in the arm and an update on our strategy
In addition to our COVID-19 grantmaking response which initially focused on providing emergency relief to organisations most in need and…Read moreCovid Stories – Submit a proposal for a R50 000 short film grant
We’re inviting proposals for three grants of R50 000 each, for the production of Covid Stories, 3-5 minute documentary short…Read moreA kinder year
The new coronavirus has wreaked destruction on a massive scale in South Africa, as in the rest of the world.…Read moreLooking back at the longest year
It is hard to believe that little more than a year has passed since I first joined OSF-SA. I smile…Read moreA strategy to counter voter apathy
Earlier this year, when we first began discussing the development of our 2021-2024 strategy, we realised that during this period,…Read morePutting women and children at the centre of all we do
I started writing this letter last month, but was unable to complete it as my team and I had to…Read moreCommunities of the Kalahari Photography Showcase
The Communities of the Kalahari Photography Showcase launches the blog, kalaharicommunities.tumblr.com, which includes an accompanying virtual and community-based programmeRead moreSupporting solidarity with journalists
Death, arrest and attack, these are some of the challenges facing journalists on the continent and around the world. In…Read moreWe need strategic action
Heading up a philanthropic foundation during the toxic brew of COVID-19, which has brought a health, humanitarian and economic crisis…Read moreWe all lose when we exclude refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
As Covid-19 diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics become available, we must ensure equal, and affordable access for not only citizens, but…Read moreHuman response to a human problem
When my team and I first began tracking the new coronavirus as it spread across the globe, we thought about…Read moreColloquium on Violence Against Women and Children in South Africa
Delegates from the violence against women and children (VAWC) sector(s), development agencies and parastatals congregated at an OSF-SA Colloquium held…Read moreDefining Relationships
I’ve received a flood of emails since sending out my last email in January. Some writers offered words of encouragement;…Read more
