Africa is home to three of the world’s largest and most unique deserts – the Sahara, Namib, and Kalahari. Increasingly, these deserts host a wide range of footraces, making Africa the premier international desert running destination. The following list highlights some of the main single and multi-stage desert footraces which will be held during 2019... Continue Reading →
My #DesertRun4NMCH – Using Sport to Give Back
Many South Africans are using their participation in sporting activities from running marathons to climbing mountains to raise awareness and funds for social causes and to make a difference in society. Supported by the reach and popularity of social media as well as crowdfunding platforms, these initiatives have the increased potential to influence meaningful change.... Continue Reading →
My #NGOs4Africa Campaign – Week Seven Reflections
This blog covers the period from 20-25 August 2018. It is only two days to go before the start of the 2018 Fire and Ice Ultra in Iceland. I arrived this morning at the Fire and Ice Ultra headquarters in Akureyri, in the north of Iceland. It’s been an interesting journey to get here, to... Continue Reading →
Shrinking Civic Space – The albatross around the neck of open governance reform
by Mukelani Dimba In mid-July 2018, more than 2 000 people representing governments, civil society formations, parliaments, multilateral institutions, and business met in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, for the fifth Open Government Partnership (OGP) Global Summit. The summit was billed as an occasion to showcase the latest innovations in making governments more open, accountable... Continue Reading →
Taking a rain check – the tale of ‘moneybags’ and the African NGO
by Ezra Mbogori, Executive Director, MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation Having worked in the non-profit sector for over 35 years, I say nothing new by repeating what has been said many times before, that resources - both material and human - maybe even spiritual, continue to be the single biggest challenge for civil society... Continue Reading →
My #NGOs4Africa Campaign – Week Six Reflections
This blog covers the period from 13-19 August 2018. This time next week I will be running the first stage of the 250km Fire and Ice Ultra in Iceland. It is incredible how quickly time flies. It feels like yesterday when I started training for the race back in March, and now, six months later,... Continue Reading →
CIPESA – Promoting inclusive and effective ICT policy in Africa
The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), established in 2004, works to enable policy-makers in the region to understand ICT policy issues, and other stakeholders to use ICT to improve governance and livelihoods. CIPESA focuses on four different but interrelated thematic areas, namely promoting online freedom, ICT for democracy and... Continue Reading →
Internet and Technology-related Challenges and Opportunities Facing NGOs in Africa
by Felicia Anthonio, Coordinator, African Freedom of Expression Exchange The power of the Internet and technology has over the years enhanced the work of several organisations and individuals from diverse sectors globally - communications, journalism, advocacy, marketing, networking, etc. Like all other sectors of modern society, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been impacted by the vast... Continue Reading →
Media Monitoring Africa – Promoting human rights and democracy through media
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), founded in 1993 as the Media Monitoring Project, acts in a watchdog role to promote ethical and fair journalism that supports human rights. It has evolved from a pure monitoring-based project to an organisation that implements successful media strategies for change, using technology, social media and data tools to make its... Continue Reading →