The internet is one of the biggest assets to NGO’s today and the incredible offline impact that can be achieved by affordable (mostly free) online activity is already affecting society. How is your NGO using maximising on ICTS?

Isandla Institute and the Open Society Foundation for South Africa invite you to a Development Dialogue on Gender transformation: Is there a role for men?

Thursday  7 August 2008, 16h30 – 18h00
(tea and coffee served beforehand, please be seated at 16h30)

Venue:  Centre for the Book, Queen Victoria Street,  Cape Town

During August, women will be placed at the centre of public focus. Women’s Month is likely to galvanise debate about the achievements of women, whilst contrasting this with their day to day experiences and the continued challenges faced by poor women in particular. Discussions about gender equality and gender transformation tend to be slanted towards women, and there are good reasons for this. But what about men? What role can they play in promoting gender justice and bringing about a more equitable society? And is enough attention being paid to the needs and aspirations of young black men with low levels of education, who are unable to find meaningful employment? Should we be concerned with their plight or does this distract from efforts to enhance the status of women?
Dr Yvette Abrahams (Commissioner with the Commission on Gender Equality),  Bafana Khumalo (Sonke Gender Justice Network, t.b.c.) and Robert Morrell ( University of Kwazulu/Natal) have been invited to share their perspectives on these questions.

The Development Dialogue will be held on Thursday 7 August 2008 from 16h30-18h00, at the Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town. Tea and coffee are made available between 16h00-16h30. Kindly note that the event will start at 16h30. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for informal interaction over drinks and snacks.

If you are interested in attending this event, please r.s.v.p. on admin@isandla.org.za by Tuesday 5 August. You will receive confirmation of your attendance.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The resource guide locates a developmental perspective on HIV/AIDS within the context of housing and human settlements development. It explains the ways in which human living environments have implications for the spread and management of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as well as how HIV/AIDS affects many of the underlying assumptions and practical considerations involved in the development of sustainable human settlements. The document also provides practical guidelines on what integrating HIV/AIDS means for the
day-to-day work of various actors involved in human settlements development processes.

Inputs will be made by Rodney Harber and Nigel Tapela (tbc)

Date: Wednesday, 30 July 2008
Time: 9am to 11.30am
Venue: To be confirmed

RSVP: By Wednesday, 23 July 2008 with Letitia Manter on admin@isandla.org.za

In preparation for the discussion it would be useful if you could familiarise yourself with the content of the guide.

“City Futures: Confronting the Crisis of Urban Development”

by Edgar Pieterse [...]

City Futures coincides with the global acknowledgment that sometime in 2008, the world has become irrevocably urban when more than 50% of the global population are living in cities and towns. City Futures explores the implications of this profound demographic shift from the perspective of ordinary ‘city-zens’ in the global South who make up this growth but remain prevented from the economic, social and political advantages that this urban moment presents.

The book has been hailed by world renowned urbanist, Professor Ash Amin, as “an important and hopeful work that does not shy away from the inequalities and power asymmetries that confront cities of the South”.

Responses to City Futures will be provided by Jeremy Cronin, MP and Neo Muyanga.

Date: Thursday 24 July 2008
Venue: TH Barry Lecture Theatre, South African Museum, 25 Queen Victoria Street
Time: 5pm for 5.30 until 6.30 (snacks will follow the proceedings)
R.S.V.P.: By Friday 18 July with Letitia Manter on admin@isandla.org.za

Copies of the publication will be sold at the launch at the retail price of R185.00. The author will be available to sign your personal copy.

You can more information about the book on the Zed website: http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/book.asp?bookdetail=4221

In a period of growing convergence between the use of distance and traditional education methodologies in the pursuit of open education ideals, this conference will be of interest to all educators and education managers who aspire to provide quality educational experiences in ways that are both flexible and cost effective.

The conference theme will be explored through the following sub-themes

• Open education resources
• Innovations in programme design and materials development
• Innovations in student assessment and programme evaluation
• Innovative uses of technology for learner support
• Research

Timelines

• 25 July 2008: Abstracts of not more than 250 words deadline
• 31 July 2008: Early bird registration and payment deadline
• 13 August 2008: PowerPoint presentation and full paper deadline
• 13 August 2008: Final registration deadline

Conference Fees

• Early bird registration fee (including payment) for members: R950.00
• Late registration and fee for non-members: R1 100
• Individual members (paid up): R500.00
• Exhibitions: R1 000

Dates: 18-19 August 2008

Venue: University of Pretoria, Groenkloof Campus

Enquiries: Email: jennyl@saide.org.za / Tel: 011 403-2813

Payment can be made to: NADEOSA – Standard Bank, Braamfontein 00 4805 A/C no. 002357410 with proof of payment being sent through to: jennyl@saide.org.za or fax: 011 403 2814.

For more information on NADEOSA, click here.

(details from SANGONet)

The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID), an international membership organisation that works to strengthen the voice, impact and influence of women’s rights advocates, organizations and movements internationally, will host the 11th AWID International Forum from 14-17 November 2008 in Cape Town.

The conference will bring together 1,500 women’s rights leaders and activists from around the world to discuss the power of movements. Delegates to the forum will participate in four days of plenary speeches, interactive sessions, workshops, debates, and creative sessions geared to powerful thinking on gender equality and women’s human rights. They will also participate in informal caucuses, gala events, cultural activities, and social and political events geared to global and regional networking and alliance-building.

Participants will also participate fully in the forum not only empower themselves with new tools and resources, but they also, collectively, re-politicise the gender and development community, strengthen alliances between women, and engage in work and thinking that is truly transformative rather than simply palliative.

Dates: 14-17 November 2008

Location: Cape Town

Registration: Registration for the Forum will open in March

For more information, click here

(details from SANGONet)

Reading Jay Naidoo’s article in the Sunday Times, two talking points stood out.

First, that we shouldn’t simply expect government to come up with and implement solutions. The business sector must be recognised as a vital resource in the new national effort to “rescue our faltering democracy”. Why? Because “business has the management, technological and distribution capacity to partner with government and communities to deliver sustainable development.”

Most successful global businesses today do not operate in a vacuum. The social environment is integrated into their success. The new models of business development … see partnering with the private sector to deliver products and services to the four billion people at the base of the pyramid as a viable strategy to challenge poverty. … With widespread institutional failure we do not have the luxury of marginalising the private sector.

Point taken. However, this perspective requires abandoning or at least moderating the view that the interests of business and the left are essentially at odds. The prevalence and flexibility of this perspective post-polokwane is being contested at the moment and we’ll have a better idea (hopefully) as election time draws near.  Of course, corporate social investment strategies provide some framework for the private sector’s participation in local development, regardless of government’s stance. The important point is that the role of business in addressing the developmental needs of our society and thereby indirectly our democracy is a discussion point that needs elaboration.

The second point that stood out in the article was the importance of community structures. This is vital because it strengthens the principles on which our democracy is founded and ultimately increases local empowerment. Jay sums up: “only an empowered community can ensure our teachers are teaching our children in schools (and in class on time), that clinics treat our people with respect and dignity, and that our communities are safe from criminals.” The point is obvious . The talking point, however, is how to build community structures – and on this score, we need to learn from recent civil society experience as well as the UDF experience of the 1980s. This is where our history really matters and many of the authors on this site have a lot to contribute.

Other speakers include Laila Smith (Mvula Trust) who will comment on how local communities can get more involved in water management and Sipho Mosai (City of Cape Town), who will bring in a municipal perspective on the challenges and possible contradictions between equitable water provision for the poor and sustainable environmental resource management.

The event is part of the Development Dialogue initiative of the Isandla Institute and the Open Society Foundation on Thursday 12 June from 16h30-18h00 at 62 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town. The invitation asks that you r.s.v.p. to admin@isandla.org.za .