The COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time. Since COVID-19 first emerged towards the end of 2019, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a pandemic on 11 March 2020, it continues to have significant social and economic consequences for all sectors of African society, including civil society organizations (CSOs).... Continue Reading →
Call to African Civil Society Organisations – Participate in the 2021 African CSO COVID-19 Survey
English Survey: https://bit.ly/363OMmt French Survey: https://bit.ly/3p8C2DY Just over a year ago, @AfricanNGOs and EPIC-Africa conducted the first Pan-African survey on the impact of COVID-19 on African civil society organisations (CSOs). The survey results highlighted the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector, opportunities that emerged from the crisis, and critical challenges to be addressed... Continue Reading →
COVID-19 and African CSOs – Tracking the Pandemic’s Impact on the Sector
by David Barnard and Rose Maruru Why another survey? It's been slightly over a year since @AfricanNGOs and EPIC-Africa conducted the first survey on the impact of COVID-19 on African civil society organizations (CSOs). At that time (29 April - 15 May 2020), there was no data available on how the pandemic impacted the sector.... Continue Reading →
Research and Publications on the Impact of COVID-19 on African Civil Society Organisations – Request for Contributions
EPIC-Africa and @AfricanNGOs will publish the second report on “The Impact of COVID-19 on African Civil Society Organisations” in August 2021. The first report, released on 30 June 2020, highlighted the pandemic’s devastating impact on the work of African CSOs. Until its release, the full extent of the pandemic’s impact on African CSOs was still unknown.... Continue Reading →
New Report – The Impact of COVID-19 on African Civil Society Organizations
The immediate impact of COVID-19 on African civil society organisations (CSOs) was swift, widespread and destabilizing. This is one of the main findings of the Africa CSO COVID-19 Survey that @AfricanNGOs and EPIC-Africa implemented between 28 April and 15 May 2020. A total of 1 015 CSOs from 44 African countries participated in the survey.... Continue Reading →
COVID-19 and NPOs in South Africa: Fundraising and Sustainability in Uncertain Times
(This article was first published on the Tara Transform website) The COVID-19 pandemic, national lockdown and resulting economic slowdown have disrupted every aspect of South African society. This situation also has far-reaching implications for the role that nonprofit organisations (NPOs) play in the lives of millions of South Africans. The more than 220 000 NPOs... Continue Reading →
Crowdfunding for NGOs in South Africa – Background, Platforms and Programmes
There are currently more than 220 000 NGOs registered with the Department of Social Development. Many of these organisations perform critical development, humanitarian, and advocacy functions, but in a changing and increasingly competitive operating environment, they are confronted with serious funding and sustainability challenges. Diversifying their funding base and attracting new individual and institutional donors... 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 →
Non-profits and financial sustainability in South Africa
by Shelagh Gastrow, Founder and Director, GastrowBloch Philanthropies There are more than 150 000 non-profit organisations registered with the South African Department of Social Development. This explosion of organisations has resulted in on-going pressure for funding. Whilst funding crises are the normal situation for many non-profits, it is important for them to make plans for... 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 →