David Barnard's blog

Access to broadband is an essential enabler of active citizenship in today's world. With affordable broadband, the enormous potential for socio-economic, cultural, and educational development in South Africa can be realised.

South African NGOs are increasingly engaged in activities and projects in the rest of Africa. These interventions are the result of South African NGOs' specific know-how and expertise (e.g. conflict resolution, poverty alleviation, etc.), funding arrangements with multi-country partners and objectives and most important, many African countries confronted with and/or NGOs involved in issues of common concern.

The humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe is deteriorating on a daily basis. The cholera outbreak of the past week, as well as chronic food, water and electricity shortages, highlights the challenges facing the people of Zimbabwe. In addition, the collapse of the Zimbabwean currency, spiralling inflation and the gradual disintegration of the security forces are all indications of a situation that is getting more desperate by the day.

Extensive emergency relief efforts will be required over the next few weeks to help stabilise the situation in Zimbabwe.

The global financial crisis impacts on all NGOs - big and small, urban and rural, local and international.

For some NGOs the impact is immediate, for others the real impact will only be known in months to come.

The crisis is once again highlighting the need for NGOs to review their funding and sustainability models.

The following articles capture the views and opinions expressed by various local and international commentators in recent weeks about the impact of the crisis on NGOs in South Africa and other parts of the world:

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The past few weeks have been the most dramatic period in the history of South Africa in the post-1994 period. With the election of Kgalema Motlanthe as the new President and the appointment of his Cabinet, relative calm has returned to the South African political landscape.