Lwati January 2008, Number 43

* LWATI *

The monthly e-newsletter of the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT)

January 2008, Number 43

www.sangonet.org.za

"Lwati" is an isiSwati word meaning information.

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<> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS
<> CIVIL SOCIETY INFORMATION
<> ICT SERVICES
<> VACANCIES
<> CONTACT DETAILS

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<> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

Welcome to the 43rd edition of SANGONeT´s monthly e-newsletter!

I would like to wish all our Lwati readers a prosperous 2008. Building on our work during the past year, we look forward to continue engaging with all our stakeholders in developing innovative solutions to the ICT challenges facing civil society in Southern Africa.

The past year was very special for SANGONeT as we celebrated our twentieth anniversary and reintroduced the Prodder Directory in book format.

Looking at the year ahead, we will continue to implement many strategic initiatives launched in recent years. In terms of our online civil society content activities, the focus will be on expanding the SANGONeT NGO and Development Information Portal (http://www.sangonet.org.za) and Prodder: The South African NGO and Development Directory (http://www.prodder.org.za). New web platforms for both projects will be introduced in the next few months.

We will also continue to distribute the weekly NGO Pulse e-newsletter, which currently has more than 13 000 subscribers.

Linked to our online content work, SANGONeT and Hivos will continue to implement the Civic Journalism in Africa project.

As far as our technology services are concerned, the emphasis will be on the ongoing development and expansion of the SANGOTeCH technology donation portal (http://www.sangotech.org). We hope to introduce a number of new donation partners in the coming months, while the project will also be expanded to other Southern African countries, starting with Botswana in February 2008.

Our ICT advocacy activities will include the fourth SANGONeT “ICTs for Civil Society” conference and exhibition that will be held in July 2008, as well as various local and regional Thetha ICT discussion forums (http://www.sangonet.org.za/thetha). The second phase of the Regional Thetha Forum initiative will cover seven Southern African countries.

As part of our objective to increase NGOs’ awareness of the strategic importance of their websites and the online environment in general, the “South African NGO Web Awards 2008” will be held in conjunction with our annual conference.

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)

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<> CIVIL SOCIETY INFORMATION (CSI) PROGRAMME

# SANGONeT NGO Portal

In 2007 the SANGONeT portal continued to provide NGOs and the development sector with a media platform and strategic tool to disseminate, communicate and access information of relevance to the institutional capacity of civil society. It continues to promote a progressive development agenda aimed at addressing the systematic causes of poverty and underdevelopment in South Africa.

For 2008, our plans include a stronger focus on civil society strengthening, fundraising and funding issues pertinent to the South African NGO sector. Visitors to the portal can also expect to see some major changes to the look of the portal. Notwithstanding the changes, we guarantee to further our engagement with development practitioners and activists to gauge perspectives and views that can be shared with you and hope to increase the voices that speak on the portal.

In December 2007, we asked portal visitors to ponder an issue that is never far from most NGO managers’ minds - the question of whether the NGO sector is experiencing a donor funding crisis.

The results of the poll, which was taken by 92 voters, are as follow:

• 82.6% (76 votes) Yes, to a significant degree
• 8.7% (8 votes) Yes, to a limited degree
• 5.4% (5 votes) Donor funding will increase
• 3.3% (3 votes) There is no donor funding crisis 

As always, the CSI team continued to produce relevant civil society and development-related content for the portal. Key articles produced during November 2007 include the following:

NGO Leaders Reflect on 2007

NGO CEO Summit

The Real South Africa!

Civil Society and Democracy in South Africa

Christmas: A Time to Reflect on Ethical Governance

The Prodder Story, 1987-2007

For more information about the SANGONeT NGO Portal, please contact Badumile Duma at SANGONeT on Tel: (011) 403-4935 or badumile@sangonet.org.za.

# Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008

The 2008 Prodder directory is now available from SANGONeT’s office in Braamfontein.

To order your copy, please refer to the information about the book on http://www.prodder.org.za or send an e-mail to prodder@sangonet.org.za, specifying your interest to order the book (R350 VAT inclusive plus postage).

# 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://www.sangonet.org.za 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.

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<> ICT SERVICES

# SANGOTeCH Online Technology Donations Portal

SANGOTeCH assisted NGOs in saving more than R400 000 on Microsoft software during December 2007.

The SANGOTeCH programme was one year old in December 2007. It has already saved the NGO sector more than R6 million in both software and hardware costs, and we are pleased to announce the expansion of the programme to other countries in the SADC region. First on the list is Botswana where the programme will be launched in February 2008.

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.

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 http://www.sangotech.org or contact us on 086 110 6443 or support@sangotech.org

# Citizen Journalism in Africa Project: Training of Trainers

SANGONeT and Hivos are collaborating on a project aimed at developing Citizen Journalism in Africa. The first training-of-trainers workshop was held during November 2007 in South Africa. This training will continue in 2008, with workshops to be held in South Africa and Zimbabwe in March, and Zambia, Tanzania and Uganda by the end of August.

# Technology Consulting

SANGONeT offers a range of customised online applications that include
social networking portals, online directories and constituent relationship management solutions. We also offer a linked technical support desk service.

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

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<> VACANCIES

# SANGONeT NGO Portal: Editor

Deadline: 28 January 2008

SANGONeT is looking for an Editor for the SANGONeT NGO and Development Information Portal.

The portal is a one-stop Internet information resource for and about the NGO sector in South Africa, and currently serves as the only gateway to the NGO sector and development community in South Africa. It provides NGOs and the development sector with a media platform and strategic tool to disseminate, communicate and access information of relevance to the institutional capacity of civil society.

The ideal candidate should be passionate about the development of the NGO sector in South Africa and the role that information communication technologies (ICTs) play in this regard. He/she should be interested in the use of "New Media" and social networking tools in achieving the goals of the portal.

The successful candidate will be required to manage and edit online editorial content, compile features, news articles, NGO profiles, and plan and disseminate the weekly NGO Pulse e-newsletter. He/she will work closely with SANGONeT´s content partners and will be required to build strong relationships with the NGO sector at large.

Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification (or equivalent qualifications in Communication or Journalism)
• Excellent writing, editing and proof reading skills
• Management experience or compelling evidence of management potential
• Passionate interest and sound knowledge of the development sector and issues
• At least two to three years experience in an online environment
• Sound information management and fundraising experience
• Excellent planning, networking and interpersonal skills
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Drivers licence and own car

Duties

• Conceptualise, plan and prepare online content
• Produce and edit news articles, features and newsflashes
• Commission articles from NGO and development experts
• Compile and disseminate weekly e-newsletter
• Establish and manage strategic partnerships
• Manage and encourage user relationships and feedback
• Plan and develop new NGO content services

A competitive remuneration package will be offered, commensurate with skills and experience.

SANGONeT offers the ideal candidate the opportunity to grow personally and professionally in a stable and stimulating work environment.

Please e-mail your application letter, curriculum vitae and supporting documents to info@sangonet.org.za.

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<> 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

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CopyLeft. 2008. SANGONeT.

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

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