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Article: Aid effectiveness challenges faced by
Bill Gates and Wife as they devote billions to world
health See
details and comment
This article discusses aid
effectiveness challenges faced by the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation (the world's largest at $25 billion). It reports that the
Gateses consider their ability to take big risks, and survive
failure, as one of the strengths of their foundation. But if five
more years pass without large payoffs -- or if the new drugs aren't
made affordable to poor countries once they are developed -- the
Gates Foundation's biggest programs could well wind up disappointing
the world's developing nations. Among other things, the Foundation
is financing the expansion and improvement of international
vaccination efforts, as well as targeting "the world's greatest
killers, including AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria". One of the
biggest projects the Gateses are backing, and possibly the most
important, is an attempt to turn Botswana, a country of 1.7 million,
into a model for delivering AIDS treatment to the huge populations
of infected people in Africa. The project, started with $50 million
from the Gates Foundation and $50 million from Merck & Co., is
cranking up, but slowly. Despite three years of effort, only a few
thousand Botswanan citizens are receiving treatment to date, out of
the 110,000 who are estimated to need it immediately. While the
Gates have set up elaborate programs to monitor how their money is
being used, the article reports that so far it has been unsuccessful
in financing "a big new drug or vaccine". Instead the foundation has
had greater success in helping poor countries adopt existing
vaccines. |
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30 Sep
2003 |
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Julius
P. Gwyer |
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this item |
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| 2 |
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 Effective Capacity Building in Nonprofit Organizations (1045KB) See
details and comment
This 2001 report developed by
McKinsey and Company highlights the importance of capacity building
for nonprofit organizations. “For foundations and individual
investors… these findings will bring greater clarity and
understanding of the value of capacity building and its essential
role in allowing nonprofits to achieve their mission. For
organizations that want to improve the breadth and depth of their
work, this report offers practical lessons from others as well as
tools and guidance on self-evaluation that can help prepare them to
receive capacity building support.” |
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30 Sep
2003 |
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Elizabeth
Kummer |
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this item |
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Preparing Czech NGOs for EU
Accession See
details and comment
This article, from Freeedom House's
22nd issue of "NGO News", highlights how the Czech Republic's
accession to the EU is likely to impact NGOs. It is written by David
Stulík, a project manager at the Civil Society Development
Foundation in Prague, Czech Republic. |
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29 Sep
2003 |
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Pact
Inc. |
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email
this item |
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| 4 |
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Silenced: Censorship and Control of the
Internet See
details and comment
Silenced is an independent research
initiative managed jointly by Privacy International and the GreenNet
Educational Trust. The twelve-month project was undertaken through a
collaboration of more than fifty experts and advocates throughout
the world. The work was made possible by a grant from the Open
Society Institute. The Internet has evolved to become an
increasingly important platform not just for economic development,
but also as a support for advocates who wish to express their
opinion freely and to work toward the development of democracy. The
medium has provided opportunities for citizens to participate in
forums, and to discuss and debate issues that concern them. Unlike
other media where the information flow is unidirectional - from the
government to the masses - the Internet allowed a multi-way
communication process giving the chance for anybody to air their
opinions and views on issues affecting them. The development of the
Internet has lead to more horizontal and less vertical
communication. Control and censorship has a substantial effect on
the Internet because it undermines confidence and trust in the
medium and inhibits crucial flows of data. This study has found that
censorship of the Internet is commonplace in most regions of the
world. One of the most important trends in recent years is the
growth of multinational corporate censors whose agendas are very
different from those of governments. It is arguable that in the
first decade of the 21st century, corporations will rival
governments in threatening Internet freedoms. Some American cable
companies seek to turn the Internet into a controlled distribution
medium like TV and radio, and are putting in place the necessary
technological changes to the Internet’s infrastructure to do so.
Aggressive protection of corporate intellectual property has result
in substantial legal action against users, and a corresponding
deterioration in trust across the Internet. A wide variety of
methods are used to restrict and/or regulate Internet access. These
include: applying laws and licenses, content filtering, tapping and
surveillance, pricing and taxation policies, telecommunication
markets manipulation, hardware and software manipulation and self
censorship. There are some positive developments within this survey.
Countries have established protections, countries have enshrined
protections, companies have fought for the rights of privacy of
individuals, technologies have sustained the ability of dissident
groups to speak freely and access content privately, differences in
laws in countries has sheltered the speech of the oppressed.
Technological developments are being implemented to protect a free
Internet, but the knowledge gap between radical innovators and
restrictive institutions appears to be closing. |
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29 Sep
2003 |
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Mikhail
Doroshevich |
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this item |
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Global e-Riders See
details and comment
eRiders are, according to the
organization's website, "roving technology consultants who work on a
one-to-one basis with a group of related non-governmental
organizations (NGOs), helping each organization to develop and
implement an information and communications technology (ICT)
strategy tailored to its unique aims, needs, and context. The
eRider's primary aims are to help organizations: * Understand the
potential value of ICTs, * Integrate ICTs into their programmatic
work, and * Enhance the ICT component of their management. Because
eRiders are typically local individuals who have both significant
NGO experience and substantial technical expertise, they are able to
think about technology from the NGO's perspective. As local
individuals, they are aware of the NGO's cultural context and are
sincerely dedicated to improving the society in which they work."
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26 Sep
2003 |
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John
Daly |
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email
this item |
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| 6 |
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"eRiding model proved successful for non-profit
ICT consulting in Africa" See
details and comment
Lead: "Ungana-Afrika initiative,
which is providing ICT (Information and Communication Technology)
consulting for civil society organizations, has finished its pilot
phase. The goal of this pilot phase was to introduce the
internationally proven eRiding model to the NGOs in Southern Africa.
'We have found a huge niche for this kind of services among southern
African NGOs. The demand has been bigger than we were able to
satisfy,' says Toni Eliasz, Ungana-Afrika's project manager. The
accomplishments of the first phase confirm his words. During the six
month period Ungana-Afrika's consultants (or eRiders, as they are
known internationally) worked in six countries in southern Africa,
training 117 participants from NGO staff in computer-related fields,
implementing 15 major projects including network setup, formal
technology plan development, website strategy development etc., and
tens of minor projects such as software/hardware optimization and
maintenance, system and network optimization and infrastructure and
staff skills assessment." By: Regina Husakova, Africa Pulse,
2003-09-19. |
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26 Sep
2003 |
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John
Daly |
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email
this item |
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| 7 |
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A new way in the decisionmaking
process See
details and comment
We have developed a Web-based tool
that increases participation and creativity. We want people to come
together and take action in the development of the world. This link
is provided by Letsopinion, which works with partners throughout
Europe all over Eroupe to improve quality and successfull
implementation, education and support. |
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26 Sep
2003 |
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Erik
Lovgren |
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this item |
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| 8 |
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"Involving Civil Society in ICT Policy: the World
Summit on the Information Society" See
details and comment
From the website: "The book includes
a basic orientation to the WSIS for non-governmental and
non-commercial participants as well as information about the CRIS
campaign. It outlines APC’s perspectives on the WSIS which emerged
from broad discussions and consultations with APC members and other
civil society groups from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the
Caribbean. It also includes the views of the members of the APC
Women’s Networking Support Programme, and draws on the collaborative
work of CRIS and APC with other networks. Key issues (including a
reflection on the term ‘information society’, intellectual property
rights, and spectrum allocation) is covered by the CRIS campaign. A
practical 12-page guide to organising a national ICT policy
consultation developed by APC accompanies the book." Association for
Progressive Communication, September 2003. The link is to an html
page describing the book, which can be downloaded in English, French
or Spanish in PDF format. About 50 pages. |
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25 Sep
2003 |
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John
Daly |
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email
this item |
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| 9 |
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The state of wild Asian elephant conservation in
2003 See
details and comment
"The capacity for Asian elephant
conservation falls far short of that needed to resolve the complex
issues that conserving an intelligent, powerful animal entails.
Without far-reaching reforms in the organisation and financing of
elephant conservation, the animal will fade away across large parts
of its range and many people will be terrorised and killed by
displaced herds." This audit reviews success by country and program.
The scorecards are an especially interesting approach to evaluation
of NGO projects, and suggest that some of the more visible
international NGOs run projects with very weak impacts. By Jepson,
P. & Canney, S., Elephant Family, (2003). |
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23 Sep
2003 |
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John
Daly |
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email
this item |
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| 10 |
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Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) In
Microfinance: Past, Present And Future - An
Essay See
details and comment
This essay raises questions about
the role of NGOs in microfinance. Based on research conducted by the
World Bank under the Sustainable Banking with the Poor (SBP)
project, other literature on microfinance, and the author's own
experience over the last 15 years , it makes two main points. First
it demonstrates that with a few notable exceptions, the record of
NGO in microfinance is a poor one. When judged by the two criteria
of success that much of the microfinance world has adopted -
outreach to the poor and financial sustainability - the results are
disappointing. Second, the essay suggests that NGOs, for all their
laudable work, may be making a strategic error in focusing on
microfinance. While microfinance is never easy for other types of
institutions trying to practice it (e.g., banks or credit unions) it
is not, as will be explained, a field where NGOs have natural
advantages. |
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22 Sep
2003 |
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PlaNet
Finance |
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email
this item |
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| 11 |
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ARDIL: A local NGO in Timbuktu (490KB) See
details and comment
ARDILs first Newsletter with a
description of the organization and its projects |
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19 Sep
2003 |
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Mahamane
Elhadj Yattara |
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email
this item |
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| 12 |
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Novel Encourages Latino Men’s Role in Reproductive
Health See
details and comment
Population Services
International/Oregon is using a graphic novel, similar to a comic
book, to reach Latino men with reproductive health messages. The
novel, Los Chidos (The Cool Ones), is designed to encourage men to
be more involved and supportive of their partners’ decision to use a
contraceptive method; to increase men’s knowledge of contraceptive
methods (including side effects) and reproductive anatomy; and to
give tips on how men can get involved in their own reproductive
health and support their partner when making and sustaining family
planning decisions. |
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15 Sep
2003 |
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David
Olson |
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this item |
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| 13 |
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Combating Iodine Deficiency Disorders in Romanian
Children See
details and comment
Population Services
International/Romania launched a nationwide campaign in September to
increase awareness about the dangers of iodine deficiency disorders
(IDDs) and the benefits of using iodized salt, in collaboration with
UNICEF and the Ministry of Health. IDDs are the single largest cause
of preventable brain damage and mental retardation worldwide,
according to the World Health Organization. Romania has an overall
mild IDD problem, but there are regions within the country where IDD
is endemic. The national campaign, Such a Small Thing for Such a Big
Benefit, uses free commercials and messages in the national press,
television, radio and billboards to promote the use of iodized salt.
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15 Sep
2003 |
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David
Olson |
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this item |
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| 14 |
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Vienna conference "The Unifying Aspects of
Culture" See
details and comment
Dear friends and colleagues, This is
to inform you that in November, there is going to be an
international conference on "The Unifying Aspects of Culture" in
Vienna. Please find details at http://www.inst.at/kulturen/index_e.htm There is
still time to register contributions for the sections until the end
of September. It would surely make sense use this opportunity for
presenting indigenous aspects. With best regards, Arnold Groh
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dr. Arnold Groh TU Berlin Sekr. TEL 16-1 angli02.kgw.tu-berlin.de/semiotik/english/personnel/GROH/Groh01_e.h
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15 Sep
2003 |
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Arnold
Groh |
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this item |
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| 15 |
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“Problem Assessment and Strategic Planning on
Urban Water Management” - Middle East and Central
Asia See
details and comment
This study, focusing on the Middle
East and Central Asian states, aims to identify major urban issues
in the municipalities in these regions, and to define appropriate
urban strategies required to support sustainable development of
these municipalities. It is being conducted on behalf of UNESCO, the
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, based in Delft, and the
Resource Centre for Urban Water Management (RCUWM). The study
questionnaire and the introduction letter can be downloaded from the
UNESCO-IHE website. |
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15 Sep
2003 |
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Caroline
Figueres |
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email
this item |
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