To build capacity in marginalized communities and civil society by enhancing leadership, strengthening structures and expanding networks that facilitate development and mobilize communities to participate in processes that address priority needs.

The Foundation for Contemporary Research (FCR) was started by academics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the erstwhile Peninsula Technikon (Pentech)who wanted to support civic struggle against apartheid in the late 1980s. During its early years FCR mobilised civic struggle against the discredited local government system of the apartheid government around issues such as evictions, whilst simultaneously assisting community organisations and activists to prepare themselves for the possibility of becoming new local government actors with the demise of apartheid. FCR focuses its work on poverty alleviation, particularly in the Western Cape Province.

Community Partnerships
Capacity Building
Training
Skills programmes
Advocacy