sustainability

Youth-driven and inspired ‘Hillbrow Entrepreneurship Initiative’ (HEI) has decided to walk the talk, and are taking their own spat in the innovative entrepreneurial space they advocate.
 
The nonprofit organisation, which is focused on encouraging and supporting the entrepreneurial spirit in the 21^st Century African socio-economic climate, has taken the plunge itself and opened the ‘HEI Partnership Café (HPC).
 

We accept that not all corporate social responsibility (CSR) is undertaken voluntarily, and that companies are in some ways pressured by the need to comply with Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) legislation. The BEE legislation places an onus on companies to be circumspect in their internal and external operations so as to address the social and economic inequalities of their stakeholders. Companies are also encouraged to assist previously disadvantaged groups to take an active part in the South African economy. 
 

We are living through difficult times. Austerity measures by governments in Western Europe and North America have seen the coffers of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) depleting. It has been widely discussed as a season of sustainability challenges for most NGOs. Owing to our reliance on foreign funding, austerity has apparently dented our sustainability. I, however, do not readily share into that perspective of sustainability. Perhaps the greatest challenge is defining sustainability itself. Yes, semantics can be the difference between survival of NGOs or their death.

The term non-governmental organisation (NGO) has the connotation and literal meaning of a group of people performing social projects parallel to government services. One of the earliest mentions of the term was just after the formation of the United Nations, immediately after the World War II. It worked well in that context as most countries and communities were suffering during the aftermath of that war; there was little trust and resources for state services and outside funding agencies worked with civil society to implement social projects to restore the well-being of communities.

More and more we are starting to read in the news of nonprofit organisations going into liquidation and closing down.  CMDS is often called on to assist organisations that are already in financial crisis for reasons such as: