[WSIS CS-Plenary] [WSIS THETHA] SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference and Exhibition, 1-3 March 2005

[SANGONeT]

First Annual SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference and Exhibition

1-3 March 2005

Indaba Hotel, Fourways, Johannesburg

http://www.sangonet.org.za/conference2005

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The Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) will host its first annual "ICTs
for Civil Society" conference and exhibition from 1-3 March 2005 at the
Indaba Hotel in Fourways, Johannesburg.

Although many local conferences these days focus on ICT-related issues, very
little dedicated attention is given to the relevance of ICTs to the
non-profit sector and civil  society organisations (CSOs) in general.

Given the ever-increasing interest in and importance of ICT issues to the
CSO sector, the SANGONeT conference will focus specifically on the ICT
challenges facing the CSO sector, highlighting and promoting practical
benefits, opportunities and lessons learned to date.

This important event will provide an opportunity to both CSOs that are
ICT-enabled, as well as those organisations which are considering
introducing ICT solutions to their work, to discuss critical issues of
common concern and learn from one another's experiences.

The varied and comprehensive programme will cater for all needs and
interests, from basic introductory training sessions to the discussion of
cutting edge developments.

The conference programme will consist of a combination of plenary sessions,
breakaway sessions and practical technology demonstrations.

Four plenary sessions, namely "Setting the Scene" (day 1), "ICTs and Civil
Society -Contextualising Challenges and Opportunities" (day 1), "Shaping the
Information Society" (day 2) and "The Road Ahead" (day 3), will focus on
broad national and international ICT and development issues. These sessions
will highlight the context for the rest of the conference programme, and
senior representatives from government, the private sector and civil society
will be invited to make presentations in this regard.

The breakaway sessions will be organised around the following three themes
or "tracks" and corresponding session topics:

ICT Policy - Internet Rights, Open Source, and World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS);

Managing Technology - Technology Planning, Skills Development and Training,
and Tips, Tools & Techniques for Technology;

Online Environment - Advocacy, Internet Fundraising, and Communication and
Marketing.

SANGONeT will invite speakers who are experts in their respective fields to
share and highlight their practical local and international ICT experiences.

The conference is aimed at senior staff and technical employees in the CSO
sector as well as individuals who work with these organisations, including
international funding agencies, the private sector and government.

Approximately 300 people will attend the event.

Refer to the conference website for the draft conference programme and
registration information - www.sangonet.org.za/conference2005

We look forward to your participation in this important civil society event.

For more information and to register for the conference, please contact the
Conference Secretariat:

Anelja de Bok
Go Girl Events
Tel: (011) 326-4379
Fax: (011) 326-1082
E-mail: anelja at gogirlevents.co.za

David Barnard
SANGONeT
Tel: (011) 403-4935
Fax: (011) 403-0130
E-mail: dbarnard at sangonet.org.za
URL: www.sangonet.org.za


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