Quote of the week
Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.
- Nelson Mandela.
Comment of the week
We fail to acknowledge that ICTs can and will only take what is there (on a day-to-day basis) and magnify it. If you are a disorganised shambles, you will be an even bigger one in cyberspace...
- Robin Opperman, Umcebo Trust.
SN-Announce
SN-Announce is an e-mail advertising service with a readership of more than 10 000 people. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free. For more information contact Nicolle Beeby on +27 11 403-4935 or nicolle@sangonet.org.za
Prodder Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory of NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To view the directory, click here. Order your copy of Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008, here.
SANGOTeCH
SANGOTeCH provides software and hardware to NGOs at discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners. It suppors NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure. For more information about SANGOTeCH, click here.
BackaBuddy
SANGONeT supports BackaBuddy, an online fundraising website which combines the power of sport and the reach of the Internet in support of NGOs in South Africa. For more information contact David Barnard or Matthew de Gale on +27 11 403-4935 or e-mail: info@sangonet.org.za
NGO Pulse Archives
Back issues of the NGO Pulse can be accessed from this link. |
Financial Crisis, Female Condoms, Secure Tenure
Civil society organisations at the forefront of struggles for economic and social justice have always made the connections between global economic policy and local contexts. The mantra “think global, act local” has assumed new significance in the current global financial crisis as across the world ordinary people are feeling the devastating impacts of ever increasing food, fuel and commodity prices.
How is the financial crisis affecting civil society organisations’ ability to serve their constituencies? SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard says, “Funders, especially endowment-based foundations such as Ford, Mott, Kellogg, etc might be affected as less money will be available from investments for distribution. At the same time, as company profits decrease or internal spending patterns are adjusted, less money will be available for NGO and community development initiatives.”
He says the situation highlights the need for NGOs to diversify their funding / income base, especially in instances where organisations are solely dependent on grant funding and/or single donors.
We invite you to tell us how the financial crisis is affecting your organisation. What has your response been to these challenges and what advice do you have for other organisations?
In an article featured on NGO Pulse this week, Imraan Buccus, writing in the wake of the Alliance Economic Policy Summit on 17-18 October, says “the government is supposed to be by the people and for the people; not by the people and for the markets.” He argues that a change in economic policy is not necessarily a bad thing. Click here to read the full article.
On the subject of changes, the appointment of Barbara Hogan as Minister of Health has been warmly welcomed by civil society organisations, including the Treatment Action Campaign. Writing in this week’s edition of NGO Pulse, Tian Johnson, TVEP advocacy officer, endorses Hogan’s leadership of the health portfolio, but questions her silence, and that of the SANAC Women’s sector on access to female condoms. He asks Hogan to “turn [her] attention to those girls and mothers who are needlessly contracting HIV because the only tool that they can use to protect themselves is currently in the hands of men only.” Click here to read the full article.
The third article featured in this weeks’ edition of NGO Pulse celebrates the Muldersdrift Home Trust Foundation’s (MHTF) victory. The community the Foundation represents, which is situated on the outskirts of Johannesburg, has secured the right to establish a settlement with secure tenure, proper housing and community facilities. Becky Himlin, executive director of Planact, which has been working with the community for 10 years, writes “MHTF, representing 300 of the thousands of poor workers in the area, has waged an uphill battle against wealthy landowners, government bureaucracy, and planning frameworks that did not accommodate the community’s vision of a decent place to live. And finally, they have won.” Click here to read the full article.
We invite you to register as users on NGO Pulse. Click here to find out how to register and also what your NGO Pulse status allows you to do.
NGO Pulse also has a Facebook group. Click here to join our growing online community.
As always, we invite your comments, suggestions and ideas.
Janine Moolman, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Open Democracy Advice Centre seeks to appoint a Fieldworker to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 31 October 2008. For more information, click here.
- The Freedom of Expression Institute invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Deputy Director to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 3 November 2008. For more information, click here.
- The Sonke Gender Justice Network seeks to employ a National Programme Manager to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 7 November 2008. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The Open Society Foundation for South Africa is calling for proposals from individuals and organisations for projects focused on educating for democracy. The submission deadline is 15 November 2008. For more information, click here.
- Entries are invited from undergraduate, graduate and law students interested in Internet and technology policy for the Google Policy Fellowship. The submission deadline is 12 December 2008. For more information, click here.
- The World Travel & Tourism Council in association with Travelport and the Leading Travel Companies Conservation Foundation invites entries for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2009. The submission deadline is 15 December 2008. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The Women’s and Gender Studies and Digital Media Services at the University of the Western Cape are hosting a roundtable discussion entitled “Politics of Digital Media” on 31 October 2008 in the Western Cape. For more information, click here.
- The Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development is hosting an international conference entitled “2008 Traveler’s Philanthropy Conference Philanthropy Work for Development, Business, and Conservation” from 3-5 December 2008 in Tanzania. For more information, click here.
- Trialogue, a black-empowered consulting, publishing and research organisation specialising in sustainable business and corporate social investment, is hosting the Making CSI Matter Conference from 2-4 March 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape invites applications for its Masters Programme on Local Government 2009. The application deadline is 7 November 2008. For more information, click here.
- The Community Development Resource Association, a NGO that works with people who are engaged in social transformation with marginalised communities, is conducting a five-day non-residential course on Advanced Facilitation from 10-14 November 2008 in Cape Town. Form ore information, click here.
- The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Department of Economics invites applications for its Advanced Programmes in Development Studies. The application deadline is. For more information, click here.
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