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GBV Socio-Economic Imbizo 2026 — Insight-led action. Beyond numbers to measurable impact.

About the Imbizo

A working gathering, convened around evidence and accountability.

8–10 December 2026 · Gauteng, South Africa

Positioning

GBV is not only a social crisis. It is an economic one.

Gender-based violence has consequences far beyond an individual incident. It affects workplace attendance, productivity, employee wellbeing, staff retention, household income, women's economic participation, organisational performance, healthcare expenditure, policing, social services, justice systems, community stability and national productivity.

The GBV Socio-Economic Imbizo 2026 exists to move the national conversation along a deliberate sequence: measurement, then insight, then accountability, then coordinated action, then measurable impact.

The word Imbizo matters. This is a gathering built for dialogue, participation and collective commitment. It is a South African platform addressing South Africa's specific socio-economic reality, with wider African relevance.

Participation

not passive attendance

Evidence

not rhetoric

Dialogue

not speeches alone

Collaboration

not institutional silos

Accountability

not promises

Measurable outcomes

not awareness alone

Community organisation workshop in an urban South African hall, participants in open discussion

The sequence

  1. 1Measurement
  2. 2Insight
  3. 3Accountability
  4. 4Coordinated action
  5. 5Measurable impact

Bigger than the event

The Imbizo is the flagship moment, not the whole initiative

Six pillars run before, during and after December 2026.

01

Imbizo & Case Studies

Delivering

A major cross-sector convening of government, business, labour, research, civil society and development partners.

  • Three days of structured dialogue rather than speeches alone.
  • Practical learning built around measurable interventions.
  • Real-world case studies from employers, departments and community organisations.
02

GBV Impact Awards

Planned

Recognition of organisations and individuals demonstrating measurable, sustainable impact in addressing GBV.

  • Potential areas include public sector impact, corporate social impact, workplace initiatives, NGO/NPO survivor support, prevention, youth changemakers, innovation, research and leadership.
  • Categories are indicative and not yet final.
  • An honorary recognition has been proposed; it is not confirmed.
03

Exhibition & NPO Masterclasses

Delivering

A platform to showcase interventions, programmes, products, technology, services, research and workplace tools.

  • Masterclasses support NPOs on corporate funding, CSI engagement and impact measurement.
  • Further sessions cover reporting, partnerships, procurement and sustainability.
04

Research & Socio-Economic Impact Index

In development

The initiative intends to establish a recurring GBV Socio-Economic Impact Index for South Africa.

  • Quantify economic impact, measure workplace effects and establish benchmarks.
  • Track progress over time and identify sector differences.
  • Inform corporate policy, support government planning, guide funding and improve accountability.
  • Research collaboration has been discussed with organisations such as Ask Africa. No contractual partnership is confirmed.
05

AI-Driven Platform

Planned

A planned technology layer for enquiry support, resource navigation and aggregated insight.

  • Planned capabilities include confidential enquiry support, anonymous guidance pathways and survivor support referrals.
  • Also planned: workplace assessments, organisational benchmarking, aggregated insights and trend analysis.
  • No AI survivor-support system is live. Event enquiry handling is the first intended release.
06

Road to 2027

Planned

The Imbizo culminates in practical commitments feeding a longer-term action programme.

  • Stakeholder commitments and structured post-event engagement.
  • Proposed Road to SONA 2027 engagement. This is not an official Presidency event.
  • Policy dialogue plus economic and workplace recommendations.
  • A proposed 2027–2030 Action Framework.

Impact pathway

How one incident reaches the national accounts

People

Health, safety, income, confidence and the ability to participate in work and study.

Workplaces

Absenteeism, presenteeism, staff turnover, wellness costs and lost productivity.

Organisations

Performance, culture, compliance obligations, reputational risk and ESG reporting.

Communities

Stability, local enterprise, school attendance and social cohesion.

Public services

Policing, courts, health facilities, social development and support services.

The economy

GDP, women's economic participation, human capital and government expenditure.

Strategic alignment

Aligned to existing national and international frameworks

Alignment describes how the initiative's work relates to these frameworks. It does not imply endorsement by any of the bodies referenced.

National Strategic Plan on GBVF — six pillars

  1. 01Accountability, Coordination & Leadership
  2. 02Prevention & Rebuilding Social Cohesion
  3. 03Justice, Safety & Protection
  4. 04Response, Care, Support & Healing
  5. 05Economic Power
  6. 06Research & Information Management

International and regional

  • United Nations 2030 Agenda / SDGs

    Gender equality, decent work and reduced inequality targets.

  • African Union Agenda 2063

    Inclusive growth and human capital aspirations.

  • Maputo Protocol

    Rights of women in Africa.

  • SADC regional frameworks

    Regional gender and development commitments.

  • ILO Convention C190

    Violence and harassment in the world of work.

Who attends

Eight stakeholder groups, one working table

Government

  • National departments
  • Provincial government
  • Municipalities
  • Public entities
  • Policymakers
Relevant pathway

Business

  • CEOs
  • HR leaders
  • Transformation leaders
  • ESG and CSI teams
  • Compliance and risk
  • Employee wellness
  • Corporate affairs
Relevant pathway

Research & Academia

  • Universities
  • Research institutions
  • Economists
  • Academics
  • Students
Relevant pathway

Civil Society

  • NGOs and NPOs
  • Survivor-support organisations
  • Community groups
  • Faith organisations
Relevant pathway

Development Sector

  • DFIs
  • Donors
  • Foundations
  • International organisations
Relevant pathway

Technology & Service Providers

  • Workplace solutions
  • Data providers
  • AI companies
  • Counselling platforms
  • Health providers
  • Training providers
Relevant pathway

Road to 2027

Research → Imbizo → Commitments → Measurement → Action Framework → 2027

  1. Stage 1

    Research

    Establish the evidence base and the socio-economic index method.

  2. Stage 2

    Imbizo

    Convene government, business, labour, research and civil society.

  3. Stage 3

    Commitments

    Capture a Stakeholder Commitment Pledge with named owners.

  4. Stage 4

    Measurement

    Track progress against agreed benchmarks and reporting cycles.

  5. Stage 5

    Action Framework

    Publish a proposed 2027–2030 Action Framework.

  6. Stage 6

    2027

    Continued engagement, including proposed Road to SONA 2027 dialogue.

The proposed Road to SONA 2027 engagement and the 2027–2030 Action Framework are planned components. Neither is a confirmed government or Presidency programme.

Register as a DelegateView the Programme