Isandla Institute's mission is to act as a public interest think-tank with a primary focus on fostering just, equitable and democratic urban settlements. This is advanced through innovative research and advocacy interventions.
Isandla Institute's development practice dictates that it functions as an experimental 'hot house' where policy ideas about the reduction of urban inequality, poverty, racism and social exclusion are nurtured. By design, Isandla Institute works with multiple partners to guarantee that new ideas are disseminated, tested and remoulded so as to succeed in solving problems in the 'real' world. At the same time, Isandla Institute works closely with academic institutions to ensure that its applied policy focus is rooted in robust knowledge systems.
Conceptually, our work revolves around 'the right to the city' and, more particularly, how poor people in South Africa can claim and enjoy that right. While this conceptualisation undoubtedly demands strong, progressive civil society action and engagement with the state, Isandla Institute's efforts are mostly oriented towards the role of the state in this regard (for example, with respect to policy, planning, programmes, institutional orientation and organisational capabilities). More specifically, our programmes share a particular interest in, and focus on, the developmental local state and its roles, responsibilities and overall functioning within a system of intergovernmental relations.
The diagram below summarises Isandla Institute's approach in relation to the four core programmatic areas of work that the organisation engages in (i.e. Land, Culture, HIV/AIDS and Local Government).
As the diagram depicts, Isandla Institute views itself as a think tank, one that generates ideas on the basis of research and an understanding of the context (i.e. knowledge-based). It also recognises the importance of the practical application of knowledge and ideas, experimentation and the development of appropriate methodologies, processes, tools and instruments, particularly for development professionals (especially those working in the public sector). On the basis of the generation of ideas and the application of knowledge/ideas, the organisation engages in two activities/processes: on the one hand, it engages in the facilitation of engagement between stakeholders. Isandla Institute sees its role as 'holding the space', where meaningful reflection, debate and engagement can happen. On the other hand, the organisation engages in advocacy and agenda setting. All these processes are inter-connected and mutually reinforcing.
Programmes & Projects
Since its inception in late 1998, Isandla Institute has rapidly established itself as a leading policy organisation in the field of local government and urban development. Its work has mainly centred around two sets of intervention: policy research and evaluation, and policy and strategy formulation.
Poverty reduction has been at the core of Isandla Institute's mission. More specifically, this ambition has translated into various thematic foci of the organisation's programmes and interventions. Isandla Institute's work revolves around four thematic areas: land, culture, HIV/AIDS and developmental local government.
Isandla Institute's programmes and projects
- Contribute to land use planning and management systems that enhance the right to the city for current and future residents, with particular reference to spatial integration, social inclusion, poverty reduction, equity and redistribution, environmental sustainability and urban efficiency;
- Promote a clear and coherent cultural perspective to urban planning that will ultimately lead to positive changes with respect to the current realities of exclusion and racism in the city;
- Promote an understanding of the developmental dimensions of HIV and AIDS in the urban context and provide the intellectual and strategic tools to develop an appropriate, comprehensive response by the developmental state;
- Contribute to the consolidation of developmental local government in South Africa, based on an enhanced understanding of the successes, challenges and opportunities in this regard; and,
- Contribute to public dialogue, knowledge sharing and building partnerships for development.
