Affiliations
An important aspect of SANGONeT’s work in general is its ongoing interaction and engagement with a wide range of civil society organisations and other development stakeholders.
SANGONeT is a member of the following South African and international organisations involved in ICT and civil society issues:
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
APC is an international network of civil society organisations dedicated to empowering and supporting groups and individuals working for peace, human rights, development and protection of the environment, through the strategic use of ICTs, to build strategic communities and initiatives for the purpose of making meaningful contributions to equitable human development, social justice, participatory political processes and environmental sustainability.
APC’s members were often the first providers of Internet services in their countries. Today, these organisations continue to pioneer practical and relevant uses of ICTs for civil society, especially in developing countries. APC has been operating as an international, membership-based organisation since 1990. Its strong mixture of members from the southern and northern hemisphere, and their combined knowledge and experience of promoting and using ICTs at local, national and regional levels, differentiates this network and its work from many others. APC’s value and uniqueness comes from the local perspectives and contact with grassroots organisations that it gains through contact with, and between, members.
Civicus: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
CIVICUS is an international alliance established in 1993 to nurture the foundation, growth and protection of citizen action throughout the world, especially in areas where participatory democracy and citizens’ freedom of association are threatened. CIVICUS seeks to amplify the voices and opinions of ordinary people. For effective and sustainable civic participation to occur, citizens must enjoy rights of free association and be able to engage all sectors of society.
CIVICUS aims to contribute towards a healthy global society in which citizen intervention is a vital aspect of political, economic and cultural life, citizen bodies are able to interact openly and legitimately with government and business, and the relationship between a society’s citizens and its businesses and government is balanced and equal.
Impact Alliance
The Impact Alliance is a global multisectoral network of capacity-building service providers that makes it possible for users to access the most appropriate capacity-building services, and for providers to leverage the skills and innovations of their peers around the world.
Internet Service Providers’ Association (ISPA)
ISPA is a non-profit South African Internet industry organisation. It was formed in June 1996 and currently represents approximately 50 Internet service providers (ISPs) with a diverse range of services and target markets. Members include non-profit providers and educational networks, as well as commercial service providers.
Since its launch, ISPA has played an important role in the development of South Africa’s telecommunications and Internet policy. ISPA has participated in policy discussions and made various presentations to policy makers in a number of important legislative processes.
Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network (N-Ten)
N-Ten is an evolving international network which supports people who provide technology-related services to the nonprofit sector. N-Ten seeks to help nonprofit technology service providers identify their peers and establish productive partnerships, encourage collaboration and information-sharing among service providers, and benefit the nonprofit sector by helping technology service providers work more effectively and efficiently.
Presidential National Commission on the Information Society for Development (PNC-ISD)
http://www.pnc.gov.za
In his State of the Nation Address of February 2001, President Thabo Mbeki announced the establishment of the Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development (PNC on ISAD).
Most of the commissioners are from government and the private sector, with SANGONeT’s Executive Director, David Barnard, one of the civil society representatives. Participation in the PNC has been a valuable experience for SANGONeT in gaining insight into the latest ICT policy and related initiatives, while at the same time ensuring that the views and positions of civil society are also reflected in this regard.
South African National NGO Coalition (SANGOCO)
http://www.sangoco.org.za
SANGOCO was established in 1995 to coordinate NGO input into Government policy and ensure that the rich traditions of civil society – forged in the resistance to apartheid – continue to serve the people of South Africa. SANGOCO is the largest single umbrella body of NGOs in the Southern African region, with members in every corner of the country and working on all issues affecting South Africa’s development.
NGO Services
