Developmental agencies collaborate with US

Johannesburg, 24 Oct 2005

The Southern African NGO Network (Sangonet), together with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) based in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town will participate in a national discussion about strategic development priorities during a World Development Information Day celebration today.

The World Development Information Day is celebrated annually on 24 October.

The participants will engage in a digital video conference (DVC) with a non-profit online advisor, Michael Gilbert, based in Seattle, USA. He will make a presentation on how ICT can improve leadership and collaboration.

The United Nations General Assembly instituted World Development Information Day in December 1972 with the objective of drawing public attention to development problems and the importance of strengthening international co-operation to solve them.

Locally, World Development Information Day hopes to highlight the role and significance of information and communication in the South African NGO sector and to profile specific initiatives aimed at improving its information and communication capacity, says David Barnard, Sangonet executive director.

"The DVC link demonstrates the harmonisation of technology and development as individuals located in four different cities will transcend geographical barriers across two continents to engage in a real time discussion about strategic development priorities for the eradication of poverty in SA," he says.

Portal upgrade

The event coincides with the launch of Sangonet's revamped portal, which contains information on about 2 500 organisations.

The portal will become an important community space, Barnard says, providing NGOs with a strategic platform to communicate with each other and other stakeholders.

"It will be a mechanism for NGOs to air their views, while creating the opportunity for other stakeholders to critique and evaluate the sector. It is also a marketplace where services can be procured and exchanged," says Barnard.

The Web site includes links to the technology planning and procurement facility, NGO.ZA, an online database of SA NGOs, PRODDER directory, and a list of potential donors on the Thusanang donor database.