• • • • • • • • • • • There is a lot of competition among NPOs NPO comfort zone Reflection about we do the type of work we do? How do communities view the NGO world? Are NGO spaces reactive? There are low levels of accountability Big division between established organisations and grassroots. Income gaps with civil society Often an alienation from NGOs on the issues on the ground CSOC NGO (big fish gobble small fish) SANGOCO 1997 vs SANGOCO now Power politics, players + positioning Networking/sharing • Umbrella organisations should assist in bringing organisations working in the same field together to maximise efficiency and effectiveness • Establish umbrella organisations in order to reduce overhead cost • There should be a better way of sharing different implementation models • NPOs to step out of their comfort zone • Collaboration, coordination, communication • Organising mechanism to mobilise think tanks, research organisations and civil society across the provinces • Inter-NGO partnerships • Changing the paradigm through coordination and cooperation • There is challenge for Johannesburg and Cape Town NGOs to work together due to the geographical divide Sustainability & Funding • Funding and sustainability of civil society organisations are a vital area of concern. What are different funding models? What role does the private sector play in this? • Relationship and roles of different type of donors. • Without donors we die – what are different sustainability models for NPOs • SA seen as a first world country – foreign funding is diminishing • Sharing of resources • What about reserves and funding the NPOs receive? • Lack of sufficient resources available • NGOs have to compete for funding and resources. This hinders the possibility of collaborations between them, as the resources are already scarce. • Difficult funding processes that have led to the closure of a number of NGOs • Sustainability – how can every NGO become sustainable and how can we develop stronger sustainability strategies? • Funders and Donors are disconnected from the ground, and their will is relatively low. • The high number of NGOs dilutes the overall resource base • Decline in aid, few sustainable NGOs Role of civil society • Advocacy vs. a service provider for government • Role of different type of NGOs (CBO, labour, NPO, social movements, think tanks) • Issue-based vs systemic change 3