GSI News
Inkanyezi GuideStar (South Africa)
17/04/07
Inkanyezi GuideStar is a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa and received incubation support from the Nelson Mandela Foundation and GuideStar International. (Registration number 053-190). Ikanyezi is a Zulu word for star. Like many South Africans, Inkanyezi GuideStar will be known by two names as IGuideStar or just Inkanyezi.
The Interim Management Board is made up: of SANGOCO, Archimedes Foundation and the network of community organisations called CORN Gauteng. The representatives are Hassen Lorgat, Jeanne Rose and Buhle Myeza. Conrad Jardine is the Project Manager and will become the Director for the initiative.
Immediate objectives are to:
- Constitute a fully functional and active governing board by end 2007
- Raise the necessary resources to operationalise Inkanyezi
- Work closely with GSI on the data loads
- Develop and deploy necessary strategies to raise public awareness
- Strengthen the integrity of the data
The medium to long-term objectives are to:
- Strengthen the integrity of data by creating a critical mass of organisations participating and providing additional information directly on the site
- Enable the self regulatory ability of the sector
- Strengthen internal organizational reporting and accountability beyond the confines of organisations and reports
- Strengthen engagement within the sector and with other stakeholders
- Engender a culture of transparency within the sector
- Improve the intelligence of the sector – that is – improve social intelligence
Consology (a South African IT company www.consology.com) is their local IT partner and gives support on a corporate social investment basis. The Eskom Foundation committed project management funding for the 12 Month period starting April 2007.
The key public sector stakeholders are the Department of Social Development that registers non-profit organisations and the Department of Trade and Industry that registers Section 21 not-for-profit organisations.
Important milestones for Inkanyezi GuideStar for 2007:
- Testing the database amongst a sample of CSOs within the next 2/3 months (April/May/June)
- Finalising the look and feel of the website for public launch
- Securing adequate resources for full operation
- Ensuring a critical mass of CSOs access the database directly within 6 – 12 months of launch
Have a look at some recent research on Civil Society in South Africa Building a National Database to Strengthen Civil Society Organisations and Help Promote Transparent, Accountable and Responsive Governance.doc
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