The Grants-in-Aid, Non-Racism and Non-Sexism Committee is headed by city councillors within the Municipal Council of eThekwini Municipality, Durban (South Africa). The Grants-in-Aid programme provides communities with equipment to set up self-help initiatives and supports non-profit organizations by providing them with necessities that are either inaccessible or unaffordable to them. There are eight types of target organizations that can benefit from Grants-in-Aid: cultural, sporting, economic empowerment, education, early childhood development, adult basic education, and social welfare. The targeted groups are youth, children, the elderly and people with special personal challenges.

By providing grants and equipment, the Committee aims to help marginalized groups become self-sufficient through encouraging community engagement and collaboration. Establishing contact and building relationships with communities is central to the work of the Committee. The Committee runs poverty alleviation programmes in more than 40 wards, including soup kitchens and skills workshops. Social meetings are organized for senior citizens, day care centres have been set up, gender issues have been tackled, and a youth desk has been established. The Committee contributes to the UNESCO network, the International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities - ICCAR.

Source: International Coalition of Inclusive and Sustainable Cities - ICCAR