Quote of the week
There is no development strategy more beneficial to society as a whole - women and men alike - than the one which involves women as central players.
- Kofi Annan.
Comment of the week
There is often a lag between the private sector being hit by a recession and when it starts to bite into the non-profit sector. Brace yourselves for corporate giving to decline by 15 percent during 2009/2010.
- Ann Bown, Charisma Communication.
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 supports 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
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2009 Forecast, Cholera, Soccer 2010...
Welcome to the first edition of NGO Pulse for 2009!
The beginning of a year is always a time for reflection. Whether organisations are planning, reporting or evaluating; at this time of the year we usually spend time thinking about the year behind us – did we reach our objectives? Did our work have the kind of impact we imagined? Do we need to do things differently? Do we have enough funds to see us through the year?
Whatever it is that you are concerned with; the forecast which we publish today will certainly help think through how we will respond to the challenging times ahead. Aptly titled ‘2009 Forecast: Resilience and Change in Uncertain Times’, Ann Bown of Charisma Communications writes that the non-profit sector in South Africa can expect some tough times ahead. According to her we should be ready for a reduction in CSI funding, government tenders and contracts and foreign funding. She also warns that many NGOs are in danger of losing their non-profit status and need to take precautions against this. But despite the tough times ahead, there are moments of opportunity – including the upcoming elections - which, if approached carefully, could result in greater sustainability and impact.
She advises: “Be resilient, concentrate on keeping the passion alive within your organisation, remain true to your mission, expect things to slow down and projects take longer to achieve, think about the future and put plans in place.” Click here to read the full article.
One of the opportunities we are presented with is the momentum around the 2010 Soccer World Cup and promise it holds for local development. As the world’s attention focuses on South Africa’s ability to host this international event, local businesses and organisations are gearing up for what could potentially be the event of a lifetime. In the craft sector, where some of the poorest and most marginalised people work and earn their living, the possibilities are exciting.
However, Robin Opperman, Executive Director of Umcebo Trust shares his concerns about the rumour of a deal with Chinese beadwork companies and the absence of a national dialogue in the craft sector about this. “Currently as crafters we battle the spectre of China and labour and material costs that we can never match. If Chinese companies are involved in the crafting for 2010 in South Africa, I think we need to know this… The alternative is that the 2010 Soccer World Cup is an event which comes and goes, and local crafters and craft organisations are left wondering, speculating and passing around rumours, to the detriment of the sector, and its future growth”, he writes. Click here to read the full article.
In the third article we publish this week SANGONeT’s information coordinator, Butjwana Seokoma, who has just returned from his home in Limpopo, reflects on how the lack of access to safe water and sanitation in many of the province’s communities has deepened the cholera epidemic. “In Limpopo where cholera cases were first reported in Musina, poor people continue to fetch water from contaminated rivers. They do so because they do not have access to clean water and sanitation. Their right to access to clean water as guaranteed by the Constitution made meaningless”, he writes. Click here to read the full article.
As always we invite your comments, suggestions and ideas. What do you think of Bown’s predictions? Let us know by registering as NGO Pulse users and commenting on her article directly.
We are looking forward to building the NGO Portal into a true civil society community space in 2009. Watch this space for when the SANGONeT roadshow will be in your city!
Janine Moolman
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Project Officer. The application deadline is 19 January 2008. For more information, click here.
- SANGONeT is looking for a Manager and a Project Officer for the e-community and content components of its various online projects. These positions will be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline for both positions is 30 January 2009.
- The Gender and Media Southern Africa Network invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of HIV and AIDS Care Work Manager to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 6 February 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- Stop Aids Now! is calling for expressions of interest from service providers to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its funded activities. The submission deadline is 26 January 2009. For more information, click here.
- Entries are invited for the Best Practices in Global Health Award, which recognise programmes that effectively demonstrate the link between health, poverty and development. The submission deadline is 13 February 2009. For more information, click here.
- The International Journal of Transitional Justice is calling for papers for its 2009 special issue “Whose Justice? Global and Local Approaches to Transitional Justice”. The submission deadline is 15 April 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The Legal Resources Centre invites you to the launch of its Annual Report on 22 January 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Chris Hani Institute invites members of the public to the annual Joe Slovo Memorial Lecture on 28 January 2008 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The “Save our SABC: Reclaiming our Public Broadcaster” Coalition, is hosting a two-day SABC Position Paper Workshop from 28-29 January 2009 in Johannesburg. RSVP on or before 16 January 2009. For more information, click here.
Training
- Inyathelo – the South African Institute for Advancement is conducting a three-day workshop entitled “Analysis in the Wild: Critical Thinking Workshop” from 11-13 February 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- Khanya-African Institute for Community Driven Development in partnership with the Centre for Development Support at the University of the Free State, is conducting a four day course on Managing Sustainable Livelihoods for the Poor: Understanding and Applying the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach from 23-26 February 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- NGO Consulting Africa in association with International NGO Training and Research Centre is conducting a five-day Southern African Development Community region course on Strategic Planning and Creative Thinking from 23-27 March 2009 in Zimbabwe. For more information, click here.
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Non-profit Analysis and Opinions
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