Survey on the National Lotteries to begin |
| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Mar 01 2010 |
Research into the funding practices of the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and the National Development Agency (NDA) will take another step forward this month when a questionnaire is distributed to non-profit and community-based organisations.
The questionnaire will be sent to organisations that have applied for funding to the NDA and the NLDTF and have either received funding or have had their applications rejected. The questionnaire will also target those organisations that have not applied for funding from these two agencies.
The research project, which analyses funding practices in South Africa commencing with the NLDTF and the NDA, was announced in August last year by four civil society organisations: the Social Change Assistance Trust, Community Development Resource Association, Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement, and Rural Education Access Programme.
The intention of the questionnaire is to extract information related to the experiences of civil society organisations, including:
• Their experiences in applying for funding;
• The time it takes to receive funds;
• The rejection of applications; and
• The appeals process associated with the two funding agencies
The questionnaire will also look at the impact of these processes on organisations, as well as the accessibility of funding from the NLDTF and NDA to civil society organisations.
The objective is to reach at least 3,000 civil society organisations through various national and provincial networks. The research team, from the Advocacy Research and Training Consultancy, is expecting feedback from at least 1,500 civil society organisations nationally.
In a statement today, the four organisations responsible for the research said its purpose was to assist in improving relationships between civil society organisations and the NLDTF and NDA, “so that improved relationships are based on principles of mutual accountability, ethics, sound governance and effective and efficient practices.”
The organisations added that the intention of the research was to build mutual understanding and collaboration, mutual learning towards continuously improving practice, and ultimately better service delivery to the beneficiaries of the two agencies.
“The research is therefore aimed at providing substantive information and knowledge that can be used by the National Lotteries and NDA to assist in identifying areas for improvement in its delivery. It is also aimed at documenting civil society’s experiences with the two funding agencies so as to assist in articulating their concerns with the two funding agencies through constructive engagement.”
It is intended that the research, which will also include a sample of in-depth interviews and focus groups, will prove valuable in assisting civil society organisations when they engage with the two funding agencies.
ENDS STATEMENT
Issued by Quo Vadis Communications on behalf of Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement, Social Change Assistance Trust, Centre for Developmental Practice and Rural Education Access Programme
Media Contact:
Chantal Meugens
Quo Vadis Communications
landline: 011 955 5033
Email: chantal@quo-vadis.co.za
Interviews can be arranged through Quo Vadis Communications
ABOUT THE FOUR ORGANISATIONS:
Inyathelo
The South African Institute of Advancement, colloquially known as Inyathelo (advancement in isiXhosa) is a world-recognised organisation dedicated to building a sustainable South African civil society. Its core work is to advance social change by working with key institutions and non-profit organisations to ensure their long-term sustainability. This is done by developing their own capacity to raise private investment towards advancing their objectives. Whilst working with organisations to develop their resource mobilisation skills. The Institute promotes social responsibility, personal philanthropy, voluntarism and self-reliance.
SCAT
The Social Change Assistance Trust (Scat) is an independent fund-raising and grant-making development agency. Its vision is of vibrant and sustainable communities in rural South Africa. Its mission is to partner with rural community-owned agencies in order to improve the quality of life in their communities. Scat works within a partnership context to support such local agencies in development and human rights work in rural communities of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape and the North West Provinces. The focus is on human rights, gender equity, HIV, AIDS and local economic development. The rural partner organisations, which Scat refers to as Local Development Agencies (LDAs), are managed by elected members of the communities they serve.
CDRA
Community Development Resource Association (CDRA) works with development practitioners, organisations and movements who are engaged in social transformation with marginalised communities. They aim to bring about and support authentic and coherent development practice amongst people, organisations and institutions working towards those forms of social transformation. Their purpose is to contribute to building a society that is sustainable and civil and they promote organising principles, processes and practices that promote inclusion, dignity and development.
REAP
The Rural Education Access Programme assists students from poor rural communities to access tertiary education. REAP provides students with a support and development programme to enable success with their studies. It aims to develop confident young South Africans, with capacity and sound values. REAP calls on state mechanisms such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to assist poor students and it provides add-on value necessary for their success.
The questionnaire will be sent to organisations that have applied for funding to the NDA and the NLDTF and have either received funding or have had their applications rejected. The questionnaire will also target those organisations that have not applied for funding from these two agencies.
The research project, which analyses funding practices in South Africa commencing with the NLDTF and the NDA, was announced in August last year by four civil society organisations: the Social Change Assistance Trust, Community Development Resource Association, Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement, and Rural Education Access Programme.
The intention of the questionnaire is to extract information related to the experiences of civil society organisations, including:
• Their experiences in applying for funding;
• The time it takes to receive funds;
• The rejection of applications; and
• The appeals process associated with the two funding agencies
The questionnaire will also look at the impact of these processes on organisations, as well as the accessibility of funding from the NLDTF and NDA to civil society organisations.
The objective is to reach at least 3,000 civil society organisations through various national and provincial networks. The research team, from the Advocacy Research and Training Consultancy, is expecting feedback from at least 1,500 civil society organisations nationally.
In a statement today, the four organisations responsible for the research said its purpose was to assist in improving relationships between civil society organisations and the NLDTF and NDA, “so that improved relationships are based on principles of mutual accountability, ethics, sound governance and effective and efficient practices.”
The organisations added that the intention of the research was to build mutual understanding and collaboration, mutual learning towards continuously improving practice, and ultimately better service delivery to the beneficiaries of the two agencies.
“The research is therefore aimed at providing substantive information and knowledge that can be used by the National Lotteries and NDA to assist in identifying areas for improvement in its delivery. It is also aimed at documenting civil society’s experiences with the two funding agencies so as to assist in articulating their concerns with the two funding agencies through constructive engagement.”
It is intended that the research, which will also include a sample of in-depth interviews and focus groups, will prove valuable in assisting civil society organisations when they engage with the two funding agencies.
ENDS STATEMENT
Issued by Quo Vadis Communications on behalf of Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement, Social Change Assistance Trust, Centre for Developmental Practice and Rural Education Access Programme
Media Contact:
Chantal Meugens
Quo Vadis Communications
landline: 011 955 5033
Email: chantal@quo-vadis.co.za
Interviews can be arranged through Quo Vadis Communications
ABOUT THE FOUR ORGANISATIONS:
Inyathelo
The South African Institute of Advancement, colloquially known as Inyathelo (advancement in isiXhosa) is a world-recognised organisation dedicated to building a sustainable South African civil society. Its core work is to advance social change by working with key institutions and non-profit organisations to ensure their long-term sustainability. This is done by developing their own capacity to raise private investment towards advancing their objectives. Whilst working with organisations to develop their resource mobilisation skills. The Institute promotes social responsibility, personal philanthropy, voluntarism and self-reliance.
SCAT
The Social Change Assistance Trust (Scat) is an independent fund-raising and grant-making development agency. Its vision is of vibrant and sustainable communities in rural South Africa. Its mission is to partner with rural community-owned agencies in order to improve the quality of life in their communities. Scat works within a partnership context to support such local agencies in development and human rights work in rural communities of the Northern, Eastern and Western Cape and the North West Provinces. The focus is on human rights, gender equity, HIV, AIDS and local economic development. The rural partner organisations, which Scat refers to as Local Development Agencies (LDAs), are managed by elected members of the communities they serve.
CDRA
Community Development Resource Association (CDRA) works with development practitioners, organisations and movements who are engaged in social transformation with marginalised communities. They aim to bring about and support authentic and coherent development practice amongst people, organisations and institutions working towards those forms of social transformation. Their purpose is to contribute to building a society that is sustainable and civil and they promote organising principles, processes and practices that promote inclusion, dignity and development.
REAP
The Rural Education Access Programme assists students from poor rural communities to access tertiary education. REAP provides students with a support and development programme to enable success with their studies. It aims to develop confident young South Africans, with capacity and sound values. REAP calls on state mechanisms such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to assist poor students and it provides add-on value necessary for their success.
Last changed: Jun 12 2010 at 7:16 PM
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