Quote of the week
Those who stay away from the election think that one vote will do no good: 'Tis but one step more to think one vote will do no harm.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Comment of the week
There are many challenges surrounding an understanding of “development” and therefore there isn’t a common understanding of the word. I believe that development is about enhancing self-reliance and unleashing the potential in a person or a community so that they are able to fully and positively participate in the economy of the country.
- Lungisa Huna,Director, Catholic Welfare and Development.
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
|
Elections, Broadband Campaign, NGO Pulse…
The National Broadband Forum took place yesterday as a first step towards drafting a framework for a national broadband strategy for South Africa. The forum was convened by SANGONeT, the Association for Progressive Communications, South Africa Connect and the Shuttleworth Foundation . A draft framework formed the basis for day’s discussions which included a presentation by Arthur Goldstuck who also presented some of the findings of the recently released ‘2008 Internet Access in South Africa’ report.
In a blog we feature in this week’s edition of NGO Pulse SANGONeT Executive Director David Barnard writes: “Broadband is an issue of specific interest to the NGO sector in South Africa. Access to increased and affordable broadband will no doubt result in more NGOs investing in their ICT infrastructure and skills, and as a result, strengthen the scope and impact of their work... Traditional NGO activities such as fundraising, networking, advocacy and information-sharing will directly benefit from increased emphasis on, and the availability of a wide range of affordable online services and applications.” Click here to read the full blog.
The upcoming Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA) Consultative Public Workshop taking place on 2-3 April 2009 in Johannesburg, takes on greater significance in this regard. The aim of the workshop is to workshop is to solicit public input from interested and affected parties and organisations on the definitions of universal access and universal service, needy persons and under-serviced areas. Click here to find out more.
The issue of broadband is also relevant as the NGO Pulse team reports on the recent SANGONeT NGO Engagements. We write that despite the potential of web 2.0 tools, NGOs in South Africa have not been effectively using ICTs to achieve their goals and objectives. It is for this reason that, ‘introducing new ICT tools to individuals and organisations working primarily in offline spaces is not easy. Recognising what can be described as ‘resistance’ to the uptake of web 2.0 and social networking tools, our approach has been to encourage users to understand the benefit of these tools to their work and local contexts.” Click here to read the full article.
We also publish an article from Idasa that asks “What are the questions and concerns that South Africans should be discussing as they head to the polls on 22 April?” The article provides an overview of political issues in South Africa and explores the effect of the global crisis; the prevalence of inequality; unemployment and job creation; poverty alleviation; service delivery; education and public health. Click here to read the full article.
Lastly, we would like to introduce you to newly launched Community group – a discussion space for civil society to debate, get input, post questions and also to share their experiences. While the group is live and functioning, it remains a work in progress and we encourage you to let us know your thoughts as we develop it.
As always, we invite your comments.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- Community Connections invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Practitioner: Advocacy Coordinator to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 31 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- Learn to Earn seeks to appoint a PR Marketing and Communications Manager to be based in Khayelitsha. The application deadline is 31 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- Mamelani Projects, a NGO working in the areas of community-based health education and youth development, seeks to employ an Operations Manager. The application deadline is 17 April 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- The Women's World Summit Foundation, an international NGO supporting the implementation of women’s and children’s rights, invites entries for the WWSF Prize for Women’s Creativity in Rural Life. The award carries a cash prize of up to US$3 000. The submission deadline is 31 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is calling for proposals for projects aimed at closing the gap in the implementation of national and local laws, policies and action plans that address violence against women and girls. The submission deadline is 17 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- The African Population and Health Research Centre, in partnership with the International Development Research Centre, invites applications for the 2009 African Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship. The submission deadline is 30 April 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- Afesis-corplan is hosting its first quarterly seminar, Elections 2009: What’s in it for the Eastern Cape? on 27 March 2009 in East London. For more information, click here.
- The 12th World Congress on Public Health, organised by the World Federation of Public Health Associations and hosted by the Turkish Public Health Association, will be held from 27 April to 1 May 2009 in Turkey. For more information, click here.
- The Development Bank of Southern Africa, in partnership with the African Development Bank, together with the Senegalese Government, the African Regional Centre for Technology and the National Academy for Sciences and Techniques of Senegal, is hosting the 2009 Knowledge Management Africa conference from 4-7 May 2009 in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism’s Broadcast Training Department invites applications from fulltime staff at Gauteng-based community radio stations for its National Certificate in Radio Station Management. The application deadline is 27 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business is conducting a four-day programme on Connectivity and Convergence: Alternative Regulatory Strategies for Telecommunications from 14-17 April 2009 in Cape Town. The application deadline is 1 April 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Community Education Computer Society, an information communication technology training NGO for the technological empowerment of the historically disadvantaged, is conducting an International Computer Driving Licence course on 18 April 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
Latest News Flashes
Recent LOCAL news items:
Recent INTERNATIONAL news items:
Non-profit Analysis and Opinions
|
Printer-friendly version
Add Comments