Lwati July 2008, Number 49

* LWATI *

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

July 2008, Number 49

http://www.sangonet.org.za

"Lwati" is an isiSwati word meaning knowledge.

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

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<> EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S COMMENTS

Welcome to the 49th edition of SANGONeT’s monthly e-newsletter!

Interest in the MobileActive08 Summit, jointly hosted by SANGONeT and MobileActive.org from 13-15 October 2008 in Johannesburg, is gaining momentum.

MobileActive08 is the only global gathering that connects people who are working at the convergence of civil society, mobile technology and social change.

We have received more than 150 submissions in response to the “Call for Expertise”, which highlights the international interest in the potential impact of mobile phones in support of development issues and processes.

To view the draft programme, refer to http://mobileactive08.org/agenda.

MobileActive08 will be largest event to date focused on mobile technology for social development. We will cap attendance at 350 people and expect to fill up quickly, so please register now to ensure your participation.

To register, refer to http://mobileactive08.org/register-for-mobileactive08.

On a sad note, we would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Simbo Ntiro who passed away earlier this month. Simbo was a highly respected expert on ICT issues in Africa and made an important contribution during June 2008 to the planning of Phase II of SANGONeT’s Regional ICT Discussion Forum project. His presence will be missed.

To submit a condolence message in honour of Simbo, please visit http://www.ethinktanktz.org/simbo.

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

June 2008 was a busy month for the CSI team. We published a number of articles and NGO profiles and also began a process of rebranding the SANGONeT NGO Portal.

Some of the key articles published during June 2008 include:

• Fighting to Remain in Gauteng: Community Rights vs Citizens Rights
• Khutsong March in Pictures
• Tackling the SABC Crisis
• Do or Die for Chapter 9 Institutions
  
  

Other articles published during June 2008 include:

• Developing NGOs: Retaining Skills
• Setting Your Board on Board
• HIV-911 - Making Referrals to Support Services so Much Easier!
• We Are African: We Are One
• What Has Changed Ten Years On?

NGO profiles published:

• Papillon Foundation
• Girls’Net
  

 

The June poll sought your opinion on whether NGOs are shifting their focus in response to the xenophobia crisis. The results of the poll, taken by 115 people, are as follow:

• To some extent: 41.7% (48 votes)
• Yes, to a significant degree: 36.5% (42 votes)
• Not at all: 21.7% (25 votes)

Keep an eye on the SANGONeT NGO Portal over the next few months as we will be inviting your input on the new look of the Portal.

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

# Prodder Online Directory

Prodder is the most comprehensive directory about NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To search this online directory, please visit - http://www.prodder.org.za.

We encourage NGOs and development organisations to review their entries and forward us information about changes and corrections that need to be made.

Please forward your comments to - prodder@sangonet.org.za.

# Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008

The 2008 Prodder directory in book format is 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 R35 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 15 000 people, it remains one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to reach NGOs, development practitioners, funders 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 Neila Pillay at SANGONeT on (011) 403-4935 or neila@sangonet.org.za.

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<> ICT SERVICES

# SANGOTeCH Online Technology Donations Portal

SANGOTeCH assisted South African NGOs in saving over R500 000 on Microsoft software and Cisco networking equipment during June 2008. A total of 13 donation requests were fulfilled during this period.

The SANGOTeCH 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.

# SANGOTecH in Southern Africa

SANGOTeCH operates in South Africa and Botswana. We are currently planning the expansion of the programme into Lesotho. SANGOTeCH staff members, Matthew de Gale and Botswang Kgeledi, visited the Lesotho Council of NGOs (LECONGO) in June 2008 to investigate opportunities in Lesotho. Watch this space for an announcement about our future plans for Lesotho!

For more information about SANGOTeCH Botswana, and to sign up for the programme, refer to http://www.sangotech.org/Botswana.

# Citizen Journalism in Africa Project

SANGONeT and Hivos are collaborating on a project aimed at developing citizen journalism in Africa, with a specific focus on South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique.

During the first week in June 2008, 24 participants from civil society organisations in Tanzania participated in a workshop in Dar es Salaam on using new media tools to highlight issues key to them and their organisations. Issues such as HIV/Aids, the environment and livelihoods dominated the workshop.

For more information about the project, please refer to http://www.citizenjournalismafrica.org.

# 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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<> ICT ADVOCACY

# Regional ICT Thetha Forum - Phase II

SANGONeT hosted a one-day planning meeting on 11 June 2008 in Braamfontein in support of the implementation of Phase II of its regional Thetha ICT Discussion Forum project. This 18-month project covers six Southern African countries (Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) and is supported by OSISA and the Embassy of Finland in South Africa.

The overall goal of the project is to raise awareness and inform a wide range of national, regional and international stakeholders through Thetha forums about the expected ICT challenges and opportunities that will be facing the Southern African region in the next ten years, build their capacity to engage with these issues in an informed and strategic manner, and ultimately, in the post-project phase, inform local and regional ICT decision-making and development planning processes.

The planning meeting was attended by representatives from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), Department of Communications, OSISA, Embassy of Finland in South Africa, Panos Southern Africa, Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology and icteum consulting.

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<> NETWORKING AND OUTREACH

SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, and ICT Services Manager, Matthew de Gale, attended the TechSoup Partners’ Meeting on 2 June 2008 in London.

SANGONeT’s Information Coordinator, Butjwana Seokoma, participated in the Merafong Demarcation Forum’s march to the ANC headquarters at Luthuli House on 6 June 2008 in Johannesburg. The DMF was protesting against government’s decision to incorporate their local municipality (Merafong Municipality) into the North West Province.

He also attended the Open Society Foundation of South Africa’s discussion, “Can civil society influence the future of the public broadcaster”, on 11 June 2008 in Johannesburg, as well as the Human Rights Institute of South Africa conference, “The Future of the Chapter 9 Institutions”, from 12-13 June 2008 in Kempton Park.

SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, attended a Meraka e-Skills Institute Reference Group meeting from 12-13 June 2008 in Kempton Park.

He also attended the ICCO/Euforic ComPart South planning meeting, as well as the KM4Dev workshop, from 16-20 June 2008 in Lisbon, Portugal.

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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.

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