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NGO Pulse 30-Jul-08 #135

Friday, August 15, 2008 - 09:37

New on the Home Page: http://www.sangonet.org.za

What makes a good leader? Is it the ability to issue clear instructions or to rule with an iron fist? Or is effective leadership about an approach to leading a team or project which values consultation and consensus? What happens when a leader does not want to ‘let go’ and plan for succession or when a project or organisation’s success is solely dependent on the identity of a founder? These issues are the focus of the articles we feature in this weeks’ edition of NGO Pulse.

In his article, Eric Richardson, managing director of Themba Interactive offers his views on effective leadership. Emphasising authenticity, integrity and the ability to be pro-active as key values of good leadership, he writes that “a leader is able to put ideas into action. He accepts and appreciates that people are diverse, that agreement is not always possible and that she cannot control people. He aligns her actions with her values and vision, so that there is no conflict between her behaviour and values.”

Leadership in the NGO sector is no easy task he says, and suggests that membership of social networks with other leaders can provide support and inspiration, in challenging circumstances. Click here to read the full article.

The SANGONeT / Project Literacy CEO Circle initiative is such a social network. Initiated in 2006 the CEO Circle and annual CEO Summit provide much needed space for CEOs and leaders to reflect on their experiences and support each other.

Writing about the initiative, SANGONeT’s executive director, David Barnard, says that NGO leaders face extraordinary challenges, “...which are very distinct from those faced by leaders in government and the private sector. They often function in isolated and unsupported circumstances, and are faced with a set of complex and interrelated challenges relating to NGOs’ social change mission ...and the ability to network and position their organisations in an uncertain external and political environment.” He says “not enough attention is given to the process of renewing leadership in the sector and building sustainable organisational capacity.” Click here to read the full article.

Picking up on the issue of renewing and sustaining leadership, Ann Bown, CEO of Charisma Communications cc, highlights the pitfalls of ‘Founder Syndrome’, which, as many working in the civil society sector know, can lead to the collapse of organisations. She outlines the ‘symptoms’ of Founder Syndrome and offers advice on how to avoid it. “He or she will be in the background and ensure that the organisation passes into capable hands and remains a stable and respected organisation. As the old saying goes no one is indispensable and if you put your hand into a bucket of water and remove it quickly (or slowly) it will leave a few ripples for a while but then settle once more,” she writes. Click here to read the full article.

The articles featured in this week’s edition of NGO Pulse challenge the adage that ‘true leaders are born’. The genuine desire to effect social change, coupled with support from peers ensures that good leaders are developed through a process.

As always, we welcome your comments.

- Janine Moolman, editor@sangonet.org.za


Jobs, Proposals & Events

Vacancies

  • Gender DynamiX, a human rights NGO promoting freedom of gender identity, seeks to appoint a Researcher to be based in Cape Town. The salary is R144 000 per annum. The application deadline is 7 August 2008. For more information, click here.
  • The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, a development agency that seeks to change the way society treats its children and youth, seeks to employ a Communication Specialist and a Senior Manager to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 8 August 2008. For more information, click here.
  • Epilepsy South Africa invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of National Social Development Manager to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 15 August 2008. For more information, click here.

RFPs and other Opportunities

  • Entries are invited from women from South Africa, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Swaziland for the Graça Machel Scholarship Programme. The submission deadline is 11 August 2008. For more information, click here.
  • Entries are invited from individuals for the ONE Africa Award. The award carries a cash prize of US$100 000. The submission deadline is 15 August 2008. For more information, click here. 
  • The Sowetan in conjunction with the University of Stellenbosch invites applications from candidates interested in studying towards a post-graduate degree in journalism for the Aggrey Klaaste Bursary. The submission deadline is 18 August 2008. For more information, click here.  

New Events

  • Gender Links in partnership with the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network and the Media Institute of Southern Africa, is hosting the third Gender and Media Summit from 10-12 August 2008 in Johannesburg. For more information and to attend, click here.
  • The Humanitarian Development Programme is hosting the Humanitarian Development Summit from 17-18 September 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya. For more information, click here. 
  • The International Solar Energy Society together with the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa, are hosting the Solar World Congress 2009 from 11-14 October 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.

Training

  • The International NGO Training and Research Centre is conducting a five-day course on Advocacy and Policy Influencing from 8-12 September 2008 in Oxford, United Kingdom. For more information and to register, click here.
  • The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business is conducting a four-day course on Strategic Human Resource Management from 15-18 September 2008 in Cape Town. The application deadline is 29 August 2008. For more information, click here.
  • The University of Free State’s Centre for Development Studies invites applications for its two-year multi-disciplinary Masters in Development Studies programme. The application deadline is 31 October 2008. For more information, click here.

Quote of the Week
Leadership can be thought of as a capacity to define oneself to others in a way that clarifies and expands a vision of the future..
   
 - Edwin H. Friedman.


Top Local and International News Flashes
Recent LOCAL news items

Prodder Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory of NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To view the directory, please click here.

We encourage NGOs to review their entries and forward us information about changes and corrections that need to be made. Any feedback about the new platform in general, including additional features and information to be added, would also be appreciated. Please forward your comments to prodder@sangonet.org.za.

Order your copy of Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008, here.

SANGOTeCH
SANGOTeCH aims to assist NGOs by providing software and hardware for very low or discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners, as well as by supporting NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure. This SANGONeT programme is open to South African non- profit organisations that have either Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) status or Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) status. For more information about SANGOTeCH, please refer to <http://www.sangotech.org.za>

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. We provide potential donors with detailed information, through the Prodder NGO Directory, about the NGOs profiled for support on BackaBuddy.

For more information contact David Barnard or Matthew de Gale on 011 403-4935 or e-mail: info@sangonet.org.za

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 the NGO and development community in South Africa. The type of information distributed includes alerts for vacancies, campaign launches, conferences, training courses and development services. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free. For more information about how to subscribe to SN-Announce or post an announcement on it, please contact Neila Pillay at SANGONeT on (011) 403-4935 or neila@sangonet.org.za.

Copyleft
You are welcome to re-use any material from NGO Pulse. However we cannot authorise the use of any third-party content accessed via our services. The single phrase below is the copyright notice to be used when reproducing any portion of this alerting service, in any format:

From SANGONeT. Copyright 2003-2008, http://www.sangonet.org.za


NGO Pulse Archives

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