The DGMT Learning Lunch

Some assumptions are hard to shake, especially when they feel intuitive. Take the idea that economic growth is the primary driver of job creation — an argument that politicians have long made. But data is increasingly telling a different story. Growth can happen without a rise in new jobs, a phenomenon known as “jobless growth”, where the economy produces value — counted as GDP — but employment doesn’t go up. In South Africa, labour force data since 2008 shows that economic growth is decoupled from youth employment — it doesn’t translate into jobs for young people.Even when the economy grows, the formal sector isn’t able to create enough jobs for the people who need them. Not even rapid growth can close this gap. So, if growth isn’t the answer, what is? Bringing down youth unemployment requires a combination of interventions across a young person’s journey, including state-funded public employment programmes, which act as a support scaffold for those in low-income communities.In this podcast, we challenge assumptions about youth unemployment with Dr Kate Philip, Programme Lead at the Presidential Employment Stimulus, and explore why she thinks public employment programmes should be here to stay.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/south-africas-missing-jobs-crisis to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Teenage years are typically defined by change — moving from being a child to becoming an adult. At the same time, teens are forming a sense of who they are and where they fit in the world. This is important because when they understand themselves, they make better choices and feel confident and connected. This process is often thought of as an entirely personal journey. Instead, teenagers build their sense of who they are — made up of purpose, belonging, self-worth and agency — through the people and systems around them. This includes their family, friends, community and the services available to them.When those support systems are missing, teens may struggle and turn to risky or harmful behaviour when things get hard. When those systems are strong, teens do better — they’re more confident, hopeful and resilient. And that doesn’t just help them; it helps their families and communities too.Here’s the problem in South Africa: no single department is responsible for supporting teen identity, and although civil society has stepped in to provide adolescent-focused services and programmes in communities, they’re not comprehensive enough to reach everyone. What we need is a national response informed by an adolescent wellbeing framework.In this episode, we talk to Shirley Eadie from the Hold My Hand Accelerator about why teen identity is a public policy issue.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/teen-identity-is-a-public-policy-issue to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Roughly 1 in 3 women in South Africa have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. It’s one of the reasons why gender-based violence (GBV) is classified as a national disaster, meaning government has to fast-track its response and can use extraordinary measures to do it.But the money doesn’t match the mandate. Government remains the biggest funder, yet spending falls short of its own commitments. Corporate funding is substantial but short-term, tied to campaigns or once-off contributions, while international funders direct most of their money to health and education, with less flowing to GBV.All the while, the legislated umbrella body meant to coordinate a cross-sector response is still finding its feet. The outcome: a fragmented approach to a devastating problem, with response services getting the bulk of resources while prevention, research and coordination are underfunded. Community-based organisations doing frontline work, especially in rural areas, are left to get by on shoestring budgets.In this episode, we talk to Nobesuthu Sam, Project Manager at Amandla Development, Titi Kabi, Manager at Bridgespan Africa and Busisiwe Kabane-Bailey, Innovation Director at DGMT, about why funding for GBV is fragmented, short-term and out of step with what communities need.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/whos-paying-to-end-gbv to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Although obstetric violence is recognised as a form of gender-based violence in South Africa, it is not explicitly codified in law as a violation.This type of harm takes different forms — from physical abuse to subtle violations of autonomy, dignity and consent. It occurs in labour wards — high-stress environments where life-threatening obstetric emergencies demand intervention — yet the rights and dignity of women in labour are frequently disregarded.Black and working-class women, migrant women, and adolescent and HIV-positive women are disproportionately affected because of intersecting vulnerabilities.Survivors can lodge complaints with medical institutions, the Health Ombudsman, and health professional bodies and councils. They can also sue for malpractice, but this requires hiring a lawyer, which is costly. Although these remedies exist, limited awareness, resource barriers and legal complexity stand in the way of accountability. These mechanisms also do little to prevent violations.In this podcast, we discuss the topic of accountability in maternity services to ensure empathy, respect and dignity for pregnant women and post-partum mothers. We talk to Julie Mentor, the Project Lead of Embrace, an organisation advocating for respectful maternity care, as well as legal and policy reform for the benefit of mothers.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/birth-without-violence to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Stunting is more than a height problem — it’s a sign that something deeper is wrong in society. Despite being an upper-middle-income country, South Africa ranks among 34 countries that make up 90% of the world's stunted children — among them are countries that have been set back by civil unrest and war.In South Africa, nearly three in 10 children under the age of five are too short for their age, because of chronic malnutrition, often beginning in the womb, and made worse by repeated infections and a weakened immune system. Stunting affects how a child’s body and brain develop.High rates of poverty and food insecurity are to blame, compounded by rising food prices and inadequate access to basic services — all of which affect stunting. This tells us that the problem is multi-layered, and no single intervention is going to drastically reduce our stunting rate. Instead, we need a national plan of action — a mission to tackle stunting.In this podcast, we talk about why stunting is not an individual problem but a societal issue that we need to confront with a national mission-driven approach. We talk to Liezel Engelbrecht - a dietician and Nutrition lead for the Hold My Hand Accelerator, and Armaan Ujra, Innovation Director at DGMT supporting early childhood development.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/the-mission-to-end-stunting to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Growing up in poverty doesn’t only mean fewer opportunities because of structural barriers — it also means growing up in conditions that make it harder to handle stress and rein in impulses. These stressors affect self-control — being able to govern one’s thoughts, emotions and behaviour — and self-regulation — the underlying capacity that makes self-control possible.Children growing up in adversity, with household instability and poor access to basic services are exposed to chronic stress more often, and intensely, than children in better-off families. Consequently, chronic stress floods a child’s body with stress hormones, negatively affecting their ability to self-regulate and control impulses.These soft skills are so important to child development that they can predict academic performance in school and even criminal behaviour later in life.In this episode, we dig into what research tells us about self-regulation, how it’s affected by poverty and adversity and what this means for caregivers, NGOs and educators providing services to children and young people. We talk to Tracy Winde, Founder of Heartshine, Wendy Lessing, Director of Khululeka Grief Support and Amanda Edwards, Programme Lead at DGMT.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/wired-for-stress to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Gender-based violence is a national disaster in South Africa, reflecting the scale and urgency of the problem that has social, public health and economic costs.Preventing violence before it happens is a critical part of building safer communities in the long run. This means investing in the social conditions that shape behaviour, relationships and how boys and men understand power, respect and masculinity.From early childhood socialisation to positive role modelling, programmes that challenge harmful gender norms and promote healthy forms of masculinity can address the risk factors that drive men’s perpetration of violence.South Africa has committed around R21 billion over the medium term to implement the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide, including measures to strengthen women’s economic empowerment.In this podcast, we explore what it would take to strengthen South Africa’s focus on violence prevention, why community-based interventions matter and how investing in boys’ development can help build safer societies. We talk to Kgahliso Mangoale, Project Lead for GBV Initiatives at DGMT and Kolping Mbumba, Director of Operations at Heroes Academy.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/stopping-violence-before-it-starts to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

https://dgmt.co.za/what-science-tells-us-about-babies-brains/The first 1 000 days of life — from conception to age two — is a once-in-a-lifetime window to shape physical growth, brain development, health and the foundations of future learning. During this time, nutritious food for mothers, optimal infant feeding practices, access to healthcare, income support for pregnant women living in poverty, and responsive caregiving all work together to build the foundations for a child’s life.Brain development begins in the womb. During pregnancy, a baby’s brain grows at an astonishing pace — producing around 250 thousand new nerve cells every minute. By the time a baby is born, their brain has about 100 billion neurons, connected through neural pathways. These early connections lay the foundation for how children learn, behave and make sense of the world.But a baby’s development is shaped not only by biology — their social world matters too. From the moment they are born, the people and environments around them begin to influence how their brain develops. In the first months of life, the brain’s sensory pathways for vision and hearing develop rapidly, followed closely by the circuits that support language. These connections are strengthened through everyday interactions between babies and their caregivers known as “serve and return”. When a baby coos, babbles, smiles or reaches out, and a caregiver responds positively, this back-and-forth builds the brain’s architecture and supports early learning, attachment and development.In this podcast, we talk about why the first 1000 days matter, with particular focus on the role of adequate nutrition and responsive caregiving. For NGOs working with caregivers, understanding this window of opportunity is essential — as is understanding what government, civil society and households can do to help young children thrive. Our guests from the Hold My Hand Accelerator are Liezel Engelbrecht, Nutrition Lead, and Mikhaila Steenkamp, Language and Learning Lead, along with Dr Chantell Witten, Health Systems Strengthening Director at Ilifa Labantwana.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/what-science-tells-us-about-babies-brains to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

What would it take for every child in South Africa to grow up with enough food, love, safety and brain power to reach their full potential? A new national strategy aims to make that vision a reality. The National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children (NSAAC) approved by Cabinet in December 2025, sets out the country’s top 10 priorities for improving the lives of children and teenagers. It identifies gaps in services and highlights interventions that could speed up progress. While government will lead implementation, the strategy makes clear that real progress will require a whole-of-society effort, that is championed through a national campaign known as Hold My Hand. There is a role for all of us: communities, faith-based organisations, business, trade unions and civil society.Civil society organisations are already active across the country, often stepping in where services are thin or absent. Through nutrition programmes, support for early learning, afterschool programmes and more, they are helping children and teens every day. With the NSAAC approved, the question is how these efforts can connect with and strengthen implementation of the strategy.In this podcast, we talk about the role of civil society in turning a national commitment into tangible change. We ask Mesuli Kama, Mobilisation Lead for the Hold My Hand Accelerator for Children and Teens, how NGOs can contribute to the NSAAC’s priorities.Visit www.dgmt.co.za/reimagining-our-future to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za

Civil society organisations, particularly community-based organisations, are often on the frontlines of responding to complex social challenges. Yet, they face a host of obstacles that limit their impact. Many are under-resourced and overstretched, relying on small teams to deliver programmes, fundraise and manage administrative tasks without access to adequate training, systems and leadership development courses.When core organisational functions are weak, interventions suffer. Considering their critical role in South African society, the sector needs strong, resilient and innovative organisations. Strengthening the sector is a shared responsibility among the organisations themselves, various players in the NGO space, donors and government.In this podcast, we discuss ways to support civil society through funding, resources and strategies that won’t fall flat. We talk to Malibongwe Nkunkuma, Innovation Manager at DGMT. Visit www.dgmt.co.za/the-impact-engine to read more and access the takeaway instructions.The Learning Lunch podcast features three types of episodes: Deep Dives; Nourish & Flourish; and Best Bites.Each podcast/learning lunch session is structured as follows:The Main Meal - A ±30-minute podcastThe Takeaways - Instructions for a ±30-minute group reflection based on what you listened to.To learn more about the work that we do, go to www.dgmt.co.za