Janine Moolman's blog

The Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC) is a physical and virtual resource centre that "facilitates the collection, connection and dissemination of information and resources relating to gender, media and diversity". SANGONeT is a member of the GMDC's advisory group.

A good education is more than about a certificate or qualification. It is a process through which we acquire knowledge and skills which informs our world view. It is no wonder then that in South Africa education is a critical area of focus for government and civil society.

September 28 is World Right To Know Day. First celebrated in 2002 to mark the establishment of the global Freedom of Information Advocates Network, the aim of the day, according to freedominfo.org  is to “raise awareness of every individual's right of access to government-held information: the right to know how elected officials are exercising power and how taxpayers' money is being spent.”

A common critique of organisations working in the development sector is that of excess spending, with little result or impact. Whether this is a fair criticism or not, the vast majority of NGOs, CSOs and development agencies are cognisant of the need to demonstrate that they spend wisely on projects and interventions that are making a difference. This is only possible, however, if development work is underpinned by transparent monitoring, evaluation and response mechanisms that support our work. Unfortunately, we do not always get it right.

In four days SANGONeT and MobileActive will host MobileActive08, the largest international civil society event to date, focusing on the use and application of mobile technology in support of social action. The over 300 participants at the event will assess the current state of knowledge in the use and effectiveness of mobile technology to advance social action, and investigate trends, needs and investment opportunities.