NGO Pulse: issue no. 93, 19 September 2007

ngopulse | issue no.  93| 19 September 2007

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

Increasingly, the development sector is called upon to engage more strongly with global warming as it has the most impact on the poorest of the developing world. It is an unfortunate truth that those that are most likely to be affected by global warming are those people who have contributed the least towards its creation - the poor and vulnerable.

In his article featured on the SANGONeT portal, Stephen Law, Managing Director of the Environmental Monitoring Group, urges NGOs to assist poor communities to build resilience against the effects of global warming. To read his article, please click here. 

Another issue that receives very little NGO engagement is paraffin and its effects on poor communities in South Africa. In an article advocating for the adoption of a Household Energy Safety System, Patrick Kulati, Managing Director of the Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa, argues that paraffin-related incidents should receive more attention from civil society.  To read his article, please click here. 

Also new on the front page is an article highlighting the plight of the Ndebele Foundation, a community-based organisation that is calling for managerial assistance from well established NGOs.  To read this article, please click here. 

As always I encourage you to provide us with feedback and contributions. 

- Badumile Duma, editor@sangonet.org.za

Jobs, Proposals & Events

Vacancies

• The Social Change Assistance Trust is seeking to appoint a Local Economic Development Specialist to be based in Cape Town. The application deadline is 25 September 2007. For more information, click here.
• The Saartjie Baartman Centre, a partnership of NGOs which respond to the needs of abused women and children in Cape Town, seeks to appoint a Centre Manager. The application deadline is 28 September 2007. For more information, click here. 
• Oxfam America, a NGO that works to end global poverty, is seeking to appoint a Livelihoods Programme Officer to be based in Pretoria.  The application deadline is 1 October 2007. For more information, click here.

RFPs and other Opportunities

• The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and MTV invite entries for the Young Creators Award which recognises young creators with compelling ideas for using digitally delivered news and information to enhance communities. The winning entries will receive a cash prize of up to US$500,000. The nomination deadline is 15 October 2007. For more information, click here. 
• The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation invites nominations for the 2007 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize which is awarded annually to an organisation making extraordinary contributions towards alleviating human suffering. The competition carries a cash prize of US$1,5 million. The nomination deadline is 1 November 2007. For more information, click here. 
• The Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa is calling for papers for the Idlelo 3 Conference to be held from 16-18 March 2008 in Dakar, Senegal.  The submission deadline is 17 November 2007. For more information, click here. 

New Events

• The International Institute for Sustainable Development is hosting an e-conference on the intersections between Internet Governance and Sustainable Development from 17-28 September 2007. For more information, click here.
• Inyathelo - The South African Institute for Advancement will host its first Gala Awards Event which will celebrate local achievements in South African philanthropy on 28 November 2007 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
• The National Development Agency in partnership with the South African Human Rights Commission and the UN Development Programme will host the National Poverty Conference from 16-18 October 2007 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.

Training

• The International NGO Training and Research Centre will conduct a course on Civil Society and Aid Architecture: Changing Dynamics of Aid Policy from 17-19 October 2007 in London. For more information, click here.
• The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies will conduct the Organising for a Competitive Local Economy: Institutional Strategies and Approaches course from 3-12 December 2007 in the Netherlands. For more information, click here.

Quote of the Week

We should be treating, I think, the whole issue of climate change and global warming with a far greater degree of priority than I think is happening now.
           
 - Prince Charles

Top Local and International News Flashes

Recent LOCAL news items

• NGOs Pose no Threat for the Ruling Party
• NGO Calls for Investigation into Presidency
• NGO Proposes Amendment to Employment Equity Act
• Department of Correctional Services Criticises FXI
• TAC Marches in Support of NSP in Mpumalanga
• Children’s Newspaper Gets Donation from OSF-SA
• SA Government's OSS Plans Revealed

Recent INTERNATIONAL news items

• IMF Warns Sub-Saharan Africa on MDGs
• Global Child Mortality Declines
• MISA Zambia Concerned Over Media Repression
• Bloomberg to set up Philanthropy Foundation
• EU Upholds Antitrust Ruling against Microsoft
• NGO Criticises Angolan Police for Human Rights Violations
• Transparency International welcomes the StAR Initiative

Nonprofit Analysis, Tools and Opinions

• Paper: A Briefing on Innovation in Revenue and Grantmaking
• Resource: Assisting VSOs to Manage ICTs
• Interview: Insight into European Aid
• Book: The Internet Advocacy Book
• Resource: Safe Drinking Water Is Essential Initiative 
• Letter: Speeding up Land Reform
• Lwati: September Edition

PRODDER Directory

Is your NGO listed on the PRODDER NGO and Development Directory? Take five minutes to update the details for your NGO, CBO or other development-related initiative on the PRODDER database so that anyone interested in your activities can contact you easily. Go to www.prodder.org.za.

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>

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 Cathy Niken at SANGONeT on (011) 403-4935 or cathy@sangonet.org.za.

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