BACKGROUND

ACESS is an alliance of almost 1 200 children’s sector organisations. The Alliance is a registered Section 21 association not for gain.

All our members share a commitment to realising a comprehensive, efficient and effective social security system in South Africa which is accessible to all poor children, and which ensures their socio-economic rights as guaranteed in the South African Constitution.

Our members come from all nine provinces. They are rural and urban based, small and large, and include: community based organisations (CBOs), faith based organisations, formal non-governmental organisations (NGOs), social security service providers, academic institutions and other research bodies.

ACESS was established in March 2001 at a workshop attended by NGOs, CBOs, faith based organisations, Government, parliament, and service providers. It was decided that an alliance structure representative of the children’s sector would be an effective way to promote a comprehensive social security system. ACESS was mandated to undertake advocacy and capacity building activities to achieve the Alliance’s objectives.