Unveiling the Challenges of Gender-Based Violence NGOs in South Africa

Despite heightened awareness and activism, South Africa grapples with alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV). This exploratory qualitative research investigated the trends, practices, and drivers of decision-making in the GBV domain to understand the complexities of addressing this pervasive issue. Thematic analysis of the interviews with staff from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) revealed that South African NGOs interviewed predominantly engage in secondary and tertiary strategies to address GBV, with little focus on primary intervention. In addition, NGOs' decision-making is influenced greatly by funder requirements. This paper highlights problematic practices in the GBV NGO context in South Africa and recommendations for improvements.