|
The report resulting from the survey, ‘State of ICTs in the South African NGO Sector’ was officially launched during the opening plenary at the SANGONeT conference and exhibition. As one of the researchers on the project, Steven Ambrose, Head of Strategy, World Wide Worx stressed that “The main purpose of the survey was to see how effectively South African NGOs are using information technology.”
Surveyed: 300 NGOs were surveyed; these were selected from a broad spectrum of NGOs across South Africa.
It is interesting to note that almost all NGOs rely on ICTs, with only 1% of the respondents not having PCs in the office space.
When the NGOs who were surveyed were asked to rate themselves in the levels of technology adoption, 39% rated themselves as being above average while 75% rated themselves as being below average.
Ambrose notes that one of the strategic issues that came out of the research findings is the impact of ICT on NGO’s abilities to deliver core activities: - Advance training and educational initiatives 59%
- Advance developmental initiatives 58%
- Advance human rights 54%
- Advance capacity-building initiatives 50%
Ambrose finished his presentation with a call to action to the IT sector to address and embrace the NGO sector a viable client.
US Perspective:
To provide the US perspective on the NGO sector and ICTs, Katrin Verclas, Executive Director, Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN) spoke to similar surveys conducted in the US by her organisation.
The findings she referred to showed that ICT is part of operations for NGOs in the United States. Unlike South Africa, NGOs in the USA are viewed as vendors and IT sector as a viable market that is using ICTs.
Surveyed: More than 1000 NGOs
Verclas argued that, we need on a global scale a much more focused coordinated ICTs in NGO research agenda. She notes that this research agenda will alert NGOs to the similarities and differences NGOs have with regards to ICT usage within the NGO sector. She argued for these findings to be used to coordinate and track our global progress.
The research must speak to the state of ICTs in the global NGO sector: - NGO ICT use and adoption
- Innovation
- Investments and funding
- ROI and Social impact of ICTs
- Role of Intermediaries
Australian Perspective:
Doug Jacquier, Chief Executive Officer, Community Information Strategies Australia (CISA) provided an Australian context to NGOs and ICTs.
Surveyed: 1000 nonprofits across all States and types of activity e.g. community services, sports, arts, health etc…
Jacquier notes that NGOs in Australia are increasingly adopting ICT to improve their productivity, service delivery and enhance the many ways they interact with government, businesses and the community.
Of those surveyed, 99% are connected to internet for email and 50% have a web presence. It is important to note that, 40% experience problems with connection.
He noted that the challenge is on civil society to prove that ICT actually does work to improve the work of NGOs and furthers their cause. He posed a challenge to the people in attendance: - Changing sector’s attitude to strategic role of ICT
- Finding models of, and resources for, sustainability
|
