Lwati February 2007, Number 32

The monthly e-newsletter of the Southern African Non-Governmental Organisation Network (SANGONeT)

February 2007, Number 32

www.sangonet.org.za

"Lwati" is an isiSwati word meaning information.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

<> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS
<> CIVIL SOCIETY INFORMATION
<> ICT SERVICES
<> ICT ADVOCACY
<> NETWORKING AND OUTREACH
<> CONTACT DETAILS

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

<> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

Welcome to the 32nd edition of SANGONeT´s monthly e-newsletter!

Ongoing changes and developments in the local and international funding environment are challenging the long-term sustainability and survival of many NGOs in South Africa. As a prominent South African NGO, SANGONeT is also exposed to these changes and has to adjust accordingly.

In response to this situation, we have started to publish various articles on the SANGONeT NGO Portal (http://www.sangonet.org.za) aimed at informing the NGO sector about funding trends and challenges, and how best to respond in this regard.

Some of the key trends characterising the NGO funding environment include shifting international donor priorities, with South Africa no longer perceived
as a priority country; shifting donor programme priorities, with funding increasingly focusing on HIV/AIDS-related issues; lack of interest by traditional donor agencies, as well as the private sector, in supporting civil society strengthening activities; project funding replacing core funding, with less funding available for general organisational objectives and expenses; and increasing reporting and accountability demands of donors.

Furthermore, the problematic performance of government funding agencies such as the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and National Development Agency (NDA), with delays in funding disbursements, mismanagement and lack of capacity threatening the survival of many NGOs; government raising questions about the role and relevance of NGOs in South Africa; scandals and mismanagement in the NGO sector undermining the profile of the sector; and the historical dependence on grant funding and absence of sustainable business and income-generating models in the NGO sector, are all issues contributing to the uncertainty amongst NGOs about their future sustainability.

These issues require much more analysis and understanding, and we encourage NGO to share their experiences in this regard with us.

Refer to the SANGONeT NGO Portal to read, amongst others, “Fundraising Forecast for 2007” (http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/572) and this week’s article on “18 Ideas for Avoiding a Funding Crisis” (http://sangonet.org.za/url/5en).

Looking at the months ahead, in the March 2007 edition of Lwati we will provide detailed information about the third SANGONeT “ICTs for Civil Society” conference and exhibition that will be held in June 2007 (http://sangonet.org.za/url/55v), progress with the implementation of the research project on ICT trends in the South African NGO sector which we are implementing in conjunction with World Wide Worx, and the ongoing implementation and expansion of the SANGOTeCH Online Technology Donations Portal (http://www.sangotech.org).

As always, we are very interested in how you think we could best serve the NGO sector with relevant ICT products and services. Please send us your views, comments and suggestions.

Best wishes

David Barnard (dbarnard@sangonet.org.za)

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

<> CIVIL SOCIETY INFORMATION (CSI) PROGRAMME

# SANGONeT Portal

The CSI team is energized by the early days of 2007 as increasing numbers of visitors show an interest in the development issues highlighted on the portal. The rate of return visitors is growing steadily and we have a regular international audience based in major capitals of the world, which in our view demonstrates a keen interest in development issues from a civil society and southern perspective.

The highlight of the past month for all civil society activists was the World Social Forum, which was held from 20-25 January 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya. We were extremely honoured to publish a deeply nuanced and balanced account of the event from the perspective of a local NGO representative who is at the forefront of women’s issues. Refer to the article in the editor’s choice section below.

To coincide with the WSF, we ran a poll to establish the efficacy of global civil society. Our poll sought to get a sense of civil society’s influence in shaping society and to our dismay we found that the majority of voters believe that civil society’s influence is either insignificant or diminishing.

The results of the poll, which was taken by 85 voters, are as follow:

Insignificant 45.9%
Diminishing 28.2%
Growing 25.9%

We are disappointed with the outcome, but view it as an important first step in starting to probe why this particular result was achieved. Look out for a stronger focus on issues related to NGO accountability and impact in future articles posted on the portal.

As always, the CSI team continued to produce relevant civil society and development-related content for the portal. The editor’s choice for articles produced during January 2007 includes the following:

Feature: Fundraising Forecast for 2007
http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/572

Feature: Business Accountability and Human Rights
http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/5eh

NGO Profile: Legal Resources Centre
http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/5ei

Editorial: Tough Road Ahead for SA NGOs in 2007
http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/5ej

Analysis: WSF – alternative forum of more of the same?
http://www.sangonet.org.za/url/5ek

For more information about the SANGONeT NGO Portal, kindly send a query or comment to the Editor of the portal, Fazila Farouk, at fazila@sangonet.org.za or editor@sangonet.org.za.

# PRODDER: The South African NGO and Development Directory

The SANGONeT portal continues to house the most up-to-date online directory of NGOs and development agencies in the form of PRODDER, and we remind you to list your organisation on this free and searchable database.

The directory is available at http://www.prodder.org.za.

A South African Human Rights Directory, commissioned by the Foundation of Human Rights (FHR), is one of the latest projects to be completed by the CSI team and ICT Services programme at SANGONeT.

The objective of the directory, according to the FHR, is to increase the networking capacity within the human rights sector for the primary purposes of lobbying and advocacy. The directory will be available free of charge to the public by the end of February 2007. We are proud to be part of a project that will provide greater access to the human rights sector, encouraging a culture of awareness and social justice.

The directory also draws attention to the programmes supported by the FHR by highlighting the work of its grantees. All listings provide contact details in addition to a summary of projects, focus areas and activities.

The most unique element of this project is the conciliatory approach taken by the FHR and SANGONeT in developing the technical platform. The directory is powered by PRODDER and rather than developing a completely separate back-end for the directory, it was agreed to incorporate the technical development of the directory with the technical development of PRODDER. Both systems share a common back-end based on the open source Affero General Public License.

# SN-Announce

SN-Announce is an e-mail advertising service that provides an invaluable service to the NGO sector in Southern Africa. With a potential readership of more than 10 000 people, it remains one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to reach non-profit organisations, development practitioners, grantmakers and others working in the development sector.

All members of the development sector can advertise on SN-Announce. The type of information distributed includes alerts for vacancies, events, campaign launches, conferences, meetings and services for the development sector. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free.

Refer to http://sangonet.org.za/url/55u for copies of past announcements.

For more information about how to subscribe to SN-Announce or post an announcement, please contact Cathy Niken at SANGONeT on (011) 403-4935 or cathy@sangonet.org.za.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

<> ICT SERVICES

# SANGOTeCH Online Technology Donations Portal

Since the launch of the SANGOTeCH programme in December 2006, SANGONeT has already facilitated the donation of nearly R1.5 million worth of Microsoft software and over R80 000 worth of Cisco hardware to NGOs in South Africa. More than 90 organisations have successfully registered for the programme.

The SANGOTeCH programme will be expanding significantly as of the second quarter of 2007. Symantec, the world leader in anti-virus software, will be introduced as a donor partner in April 2007, while SANGONeT will also start expanding the overall programme to various SADC countries. SANGONeT will shortly also start publishing articles and case studies on SANGOTeCH about technology applications and resources relevant to the NGO sector.

South African NGOs interested in ordering software available on SANGOTeCH should first check their general eligibility for the programme at http://www.sangotech.org/eligibility. If an organisation fulfills these requirements, then check the specific eligibility requirements of our initial donor partners, Cisco and Microsoft. If you qualify for at least one of these, then register for the programme at http://www.sangotech.org/user/register.

The product catalogue can be viewed at http://store.sangotech.org/directory.

For more information about SANGOTeCH, as well as to receive regular updates about new products and services, please refer to www.sangotech.org or contact us on 086 110 6443 or support@sangotech.org.

# Technology Consulting

SANGONeT offers a wide range of customised technology solutions, including open source software consulting, facilitation of web workshops and developing a technology plan for your organisation.

For more information on how we can assist you, please contact Matthew de Gale on Tel: (011) 403-4935 or matthew@sangonet.org.za

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

<> ICT ADVOCACY

# Thetha - The SANGONeT Regional ICT Discussion Forum

SANGONeT and Development Workshop/Angonet hosted the fifth Southern African Thetha forum from 31 January - 1 February 2007 in Luanda, Angola.

Refer to http://www.sangonet.org.za/thetha for more information about the event.

# Telecommunications Action Group (TAG) Campaign

The Telecommunications Action Group (TAG) published a full-page advert in the Mail & Guardian on 19 January 2007. The advert was paid for by more than 200 contributors and is the first step in a series of actions to highlight the unacceptably high costs of telecommunications in South Africa. SANGONeT is one of the organisations that supported the publishing of the advert.

Refer to http://www.tag.org.za for more information about TAG.

# Third Annual SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference and Exhibition

SANGONeT will host its third annual "ICTs for Civil Society" conference in June 2007 in Johannesburg. SANGONeT invites anyone interested in participating in the event as a speaker or participant to register their interest at - info@sangonet.org.za.

We are especially interested in receiving information on any case studies, technology solutions, etc. which could be incorporated into the conference programme.

Refer to http://sangonet.org.za/url/55v to assist us in shaping the conference programme.

Detailed information about the conference, as well as the entry requirements for NGO Web Awards 2007, will be included in the March 2007 edition of Lwati.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

NETWORKING AND OUTREACH

# SANGONeT’s Portal Editor, Fazila Farouk, attended the “Human Rights and Business Accountability Conference”, hosted by the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), from 16-17 January 2007 at the Rosebank Hotel in Johannesburg.

# SANGONeT's Executive Director, David Barnard, attended the AGM of the Africa Institute for Corporate Citizenship (AICC) on 18 January 2007 in Parktown.

# SANGONeT’s ICT Advocacy Manager, Nthabiseng Taole, attended the Freedom to Innovate South Africa (FTISA) workshop on software patents on 19 Janauary 2007 in Pretoria.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

<> CONTACT DETAILS

SANGONeT
P O Box 31392
2017 Braamfontein
SOUTH AFRICA

29th Floor, UCS Building
209 Smit Street
Braamfontein

Tel: (+27) (11) 403-4935
Fax: (+27) (11) 403-0130
E-mail: newsletter@sangonet.org.za
WWW: http://www.sangonet.org.za

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

CopyLeft. 2007. SANGONeT.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and modify this document. Please provide an acknowledgment to SANGONeT.

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/