[WSIS CS-Plenary] [WSIS THETHA] First Annual SANGONeT "ICTs and Civil Society" Conference

[Refilwe]

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

First Annual SANGONeT "ICTs and Civil Society" Conference

2-4 March 2005

Johannesburg, South Africa

The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) is pleased to
announce that it will be organising its first annual "ICTs and Civil
Society" conference that is to take place from 2-4 March 2005 in
Johannesburg, South Africa.

Although many local conferences these days focus on ICT-related
issues, very little dedicated attention is given to the relevance of
ICTs to the civil society organisation (CSO) sector.

During the last few years the Southern African CSO sector has
experienced dramatic changes. The funding and related crises
experienced by CSOs in the early 1990s have been well
documented. Many CSOs were forced to close down because of a
lack of funding and related organisational problems.

As a result, the critical challenge facing many CSOs today relates
to their capacity to make a fundamental contribution to finding
longterm and sustainable solutions to Southern Africa's
development problems. 

The strengthening of CSOs' capacity for service delivery
increasingly requires that attention be given to their ability to use,
manage and implement ICTs. Although many Southern African
CSOs are already active users of ICTs, much more needs to be
done to build their capacity.

CSOs face numerous challenges in keeping up with rapidly
changing ICT developments. These include developing internal
organisational and educational processes, making technology
investments, developing and implementing electronic
communication strategies, and staying abreast of a wide range of
ICT policy issues impacting on the sector.

The conference will therefore focus specifically on these ICT
challenges facing the CSO sector, highlighting and promoting
practical benefits, opportunities and lessons learned to date. It will
provide an opportunity to both CSOs that are ICT-enabled, as well
as those organisations which are considering introducting ICT
solutions to their work, to discuss critical issues of common
concern and learn from one another's experiences.

Specific attention will also be given to the activities and
initiatives of various local and international CSOs involved in ICT
issues.

The conference will also include an exhibition where CSOs, as
well as a wide range of ICT service providers, will be able to
showcase their products and services.

This conference is aimed at leadership staff and technical
employees in CSOs, and individuals who work with these
organisations, including donor agencies, the private sector
and the government. 

For more information, or to suggest specific issues and topics to be
covered at the conference, please contact Refilwe Rakhibane at
SANGONeT:

Tel: (011) 403-4935 / Fax: (011) 403-0130
E-mail: mtintern at sangonet.org.za

Additional information on the conference will also be posted on the
SANGONeT website - www.sangonet.org.za - during the next few
weeks.

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SANGONeT has been providing ICT networking, information and
training services to Southern African CSOs since 1987. Its mission
is to be a facilitator in the effective and empowering use of
information communication technology (ICT) tools by development
and social justice actors in Southern Africa. 

SANGONeT exists with the purpose of sharing information, building
capacity, linking people and organisations through the use of ICTs
in Southern Africa.

SANGONeT's vision is a just, equitable and prosperous Southern
African society, where the impact and contribution of sustainable
development programmes are supported by appropriate, relevant
and affordable ICT solutions.

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