Archive for May, 2012

22
May

Tuition Scholarship for Management and Development of NGOs Seminar in Israel

Galilee International Management Institute (formerly Galillee College, est. 1987); a leading international management-training institute announces a Special Capacity-Building Seminar on Management of NGOs, scheduled to be held at the Institute Study Centre in Israel from 29th August – 12th September, 2012.

Bullet 14 Curriculum
Bullet 14 Academic Director
Bullet 14 Graduate Quotes
Bullet 14 Participating Organisations
Bullet 14 Registration
Bullet 14 Information and Fees
Bullet 14 Contact Us
Download Registration Kit

The seminar has been designed for directors and senior officials in non-governmental organisations. It addresses the current role of NGOs in community development and challenges NGO leaders in their efforts to build their organisations. The seminar provides participants with a learning environment that promotes and encourages the exchange of ideas and experiences and builds international links among NGO leaders.

 

In recent years the number and scope of non-governmental organisations, responsible for health, education, the economy and the environment, has greatly increased.   They are highly influential in communities, at the grass-roots level, in the planning and implementation of social and economic policy.  Increasingly, NGOs mediate the relationship between the private and public sectors and facilitate private sector investment in community development and the environment. Therefore, effective leadership and creative management of NGOs are crucial to gain advantage in the competition for the limited resources available to the public sector.

Galilee Institute takes as its mission to sustain development through capacity building. Based on our institution’s scholarship policy, the Institute Board have decided to grant Tuition Scholarships* to qualified candidates. We would therefore like to invite your organisation to nominate a candidate for the programme.  Nominees must hold a university degree or have vast work experience within the field and be fluent in English.

Should you wish to recommend a candidate or participate yourself, register online via http://www.galilcol.ac.il/courses/programs/course.asp?courseID=49, or contact the Programme Director by fax or email.

*This does not include the airfare to and from Israel and the living expenses while the participant is in Israel, which are covered by the candidate, employer or other sponsor.

Contact

Mr. Omri Ilan
Programme Director, Management and Development of NGOs
Galilee International Management Institute (GIMI)
E-mail: info@galilcol.ac.il
Phone: 972 4 642 8888
Fax: 972 4 651 4811

22
May

First Equity-based Crowdfunding Portal Opens its Doors to Businesses

“This is a really big deal for entrepreneurs and small businesses,” commented Peoples Venture Capital spokesman Noah Tier, “what this means is businesses can now move forward with getting themselves listed on a portal, and getting prepared now is critical,” added Mr. Tier.

 

PETERBOROUGH, N.H., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –PeoplesVC.com today announced it has opened the doors of its stock crowdfunding platform to small businesses seeking capital. Startups and existing businesses can raise up to $1,000,000 through equity-based Crowdfunding Portals, as a result of new legislation thatpassed recently on April 5th. The new law, which is part of the JOBS act, allows companies to sell stock directly to the public, and also authorizes general solicitation through social networks and other on-line avenues. PeoplesVC.com moved out of its Beta mode today and open edits doors to businesses so they can get listed on its Crowdfunding Portalwhile the SEC finalizes its guidelines.

 

“This is a really big deal for entrepreneurs and small businesses,”commented Peoples Venture Capital spokesman Noah Tier, “what this means is businesses can now move forward with getting themselves listed on a portal, and getting prepared now is critical,” added Mr. Tier.Companies that move quickly to get themselves listed will have acompetitive market advantage, and starting right away is important as the under writing process takes time. Like any initial offering of stock, there are required steps for preparation, and PeoplesVC.com has automated the process to make it easy for startups and existing businesses.

 

“Many small businesses are hurting for expansion capital right now, asbanks have not been lending much to small businesses since 2008, so weare excited to offer a new opportunity for entrepreneurs and small businesses to receive capital and also be able to set their own terms and stock price,” said Mr. Tier. Recent reports have predicted that the average American will invest 1% of their income in crowdfunded companies, which will create a sizeable capital market opportunity for entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses.

 

About PeoplesVC.com

Peoples Venture Capital was founded to enable individual investors toparticipate in Venture Capital investments and the growth and success of small companies, while helping entrepreneurs succeed throughgrassroots funding. Harnessing the power of the Internet, SocialNetworking, and recently passed U.S. laws, PeoplesVC.com is a catalystfor rapid change, jobs growth, and innovation. The company can be found online at http://www.PeoplesVC.com/

 

This article was first published by PRNewswire. It was culled from www.PeoplesVC.com

17
May

Social Capital Market Coming To Africa; The Reality of a New Africa

Indeed, Africa on the whole is emerging impressively from its “lost decades” of the 1980s and ’90s.  The decisive role of young Africans in designing the future they want, cannot be over emphasised. Beyond forming a critical mass of civil activists exhuming great pressures on all quarters of governance hitherto crippled by bad leadership, young Africans are largely contributive to Africa’s recent economic turn-around.  By now, everyone has heard that Africa is the sixth world’s fastest-growing economies.

Femi Aderibigbe, ED, ImpactHouse International

Welcome to the new Africa!!!
It is undeniably ready for take-off,
be assured this is no hype.
This brief, gives  an exciting account of yet another young entrepreneurs doing Africa proud.  The Executive Director, ImpactHouse International spoke passionately about impact investing, social entrepreneurship and his team’s efforts towards facilitating the sporadic growth of the strongmen of Africa’s future.
Our continent, Africa as an emerging market holds a great deal of fortune from a newly arising form of capitalism which recognizes the ability to direct the power and efficiency of market systems toward social impact. Social Capital Markets is dedicated to supporting the growth of this market.
In a deal fuelled by creativity, foresight and ImpactHouse‘s relentless effort in its commitment to bringing a contemporary edge to the Non State sector and promoting best practise to enhance sustainable development in Africa, the duo of Femi Aderibigbe (ImpactHouse International, Nigeria) and Peter Mbiyu (Edis Capital, Kenya) prompted by the statement above, dared bringing Social Capital Markets to Africa; a move which has caused the names of these young entrepreneurs written in history.
This partnership which is currently at its final stage would launch a series of SOCAPAfrica annual events facilitating the connection of leading global innovators – investors, foundations, institutions and social entrepreneurs – to build this market at the intersection of money and meaning.
SOCAPAfrica is billed for first official presentation before world’s leading social impact innovators at SOCAP 12 holding from the 1st – 4th October, 2012 at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, California. SOCAP12 will once again gather global innovators – investors, foundations, institutions, and social entrepreneurs – to celebrate directing the power and efficiency of capitalistic market systems toward social impact. Apply to attend SOCAP 12 here
STAY TUNED FOR UPDATES ABOUT SOCAPAFRICA AND DETAILS OF HOW YOU CAN BE INVOLVED
11
May

Announcing $1 Million Fund for News Innovation

African News Innovation Challenge (ANIC) is looking for ideas that will transform the way that African media work. This means that your idea should offer significant and tangible improvements to existing tools or techniques, or should propose new ways for African journalists to gather news, tell stories, engage with audiences, or sustain media organisations.

Ideas that have the potential to be replicated or that could scale continentally will have an advantage.

$1m Up For Grabs in African News Innovation Challenge.

Africa’s first major contest designed to promote the development of digital media products and innovations is now accepting applications.

ANIC will provide grants from $12,500 to $100,000 for the best projects aimed at strengthening and transforming African news media. The contest is modeled on the highly successful Knight News Challenge in the United States. Grantees will also receive technical advice, startup support and one-on-one mentoring from the world’s top media experts.

Of particular interest are proposals that improve data-based investigative journalism, audience engagement, mobile news distribution, data visualization, new revenue models and workflow systems.

The African Media Initiative (AMI), Africa’s largest association of media owners and operators, announced the contest last November as part of a pan-African initiative to spur digital experimentation and technology-driven projects and startups.

“African media have a tremendous opportunity to leapfrog the business disruption faced by media in Europe and the U.S.,” says AMI chief executive Amadou Mahtar Ba. “The growing reach of mobile networks and improving Internet access is beginning to reshape the media landscape in Africa. We believe this competition will help African news organizations stay ahead of the curve.”

Contest partners include Omidyar NetworkGoogle, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the U.S. State Department, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

“Omidyar Network is delighted to be supporting the African News Innovation Challenge,” said Stephen King, partner at Omidyar Network.  “Across the continent we are seeing innovative ways in which technology is providing people with greater access to information. This challenge is a great opportunity for journalists, entrepreneurs and technologists to join forces and help enable the African media to hold their leaders to account.”

Digital strategist Justin Arenstein, a Knight International Journalism Fellow working with AMI, is leading the initiative. The International Center for Journalists in Washington, D.C., administers the Knight Fellowships.

HOW TO APPLY:

Entries must be submitted to the ANIC website by midnight (Central African Time) on July 10, 2012.

WHO CAN APPLY:

Submit an Entry!

Search Entries

Proposals may be submitted by news pioneers from anywhere in the world, but entries must have an African media partner who will help develop and test the innovation. Projects that are designed for Africa will stand a better chance of receiving support.

Read more here: http://africannewschallenge.org/

 

10
May

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION FOR AFRICAN ROAD RALLY 2012

The African Road Rally Organization is proud to announce a call for Participation in the maiden edition of the road trip project. The ARR team plans to travel from Senegal, through Lagos, Nigeria to South Africa through Ethiopia and Kenya for the 2012 edition. This year’s trip will feature 50 Nigerians and three delegates from 18 other participating African Country traveling over 19,000 km within 57 days (through mostly rough terrains). The trip is anchored to the “International Day of Peace”.

The group will make stops every three days in the capital and important cities of the Road Rally Route to Advocate for Peace across
Africa; showcase the richness of Africa through Youth Mobilization and also brand participating organization in and across Africa, in collaboration with the indigenous artists in the cities, while networking within the host community. However intermediary stop will be made in towns between cities according to the on-ground reality of the trip.

We are looking for interested young adults whose dedication and patriotism will be the anchor for a successful portrayal of Africans who resonate with the idea behind Invisible Borders and would like to take part in the ARR 2012 road trip. Female participants are
particularly encouraged to apply.

Participants must:
 Be from African
 Not be more than 40 years of age
 Have minimum education of Senior Secondary School
 Must be ready to undergo medical fitness examination
 Must be creative, patriotic, have a firm grasp/understanding of
issues in Africa and a strong desire for the interaction/development
of African countries
 Willing to undertake post-rally evaluation and interactive programs
 Ensure that he/she is in good health to take on a road trip up to 57 days.

There are two stages of the selection process, the short-listing, and interview for delegates

INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPANTS

 N300, 000 for each delegate; Branding an organization across Africa.

 Membership of the Pan African Network of Leaders

 Facilitator training to undertake civil society grass root awareness
of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)

 Step down training on Leadership

How to Apply

Send the following details to thirdsctorconsult@gmail.com using your “name and surname / ARR 2012 participant” as the subject of
your email.

1. A short biography (200 words max)
2. A recent passport photograph
3. Pay N5, 000 into our bank account: (Call or email for details)
4. Collect the teller number and text it to the short code( given with requested details)
5. Attend the short listing audition. Abuja, Lagos, Asaba, Enugu,
Port-harcourt,

For more information kindly contact:

The Route Co-ordinator
African Road Rally 2012
41, James Robertson Street
Surulere, Lagos.

OR

Chijioke: +234-802-3132-602, Peter: +234-803-7350-768.

08
May

How NGOs can obtain Consultative Status with the United Nations’ ECOSOC

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) provides NGOs the opportunity to obtain consultative status which benefits NGOs in attending international conferences and events, make written and oral statements at these events, organize side events, enter the United Nations premises and have opportunities to network and lobby.

Every year, prior to June 1st, ECOSOC seeks applications from NGOs by first asking them to get their profiles registered in their database and then submit their online application for consideration to obtain the consultative status. The NGO Branch at the United Nations receives, reviews and forwards the applications to the Committee on NGOS which meets twice a year  to decide which NGOs applying for consultative status it will recommend to the ECOSOC Council.

As this process of obtaining consultative status is beneficial for both NGOs and the ECOSOC, many NGOs around the world fail to apply or get their applications rejected easily either because they have poor knowledge about the process involved in selection or they have less interest in it.

In order to increase awareness about the benefits of the consultative status, the United Nations has published a simple and useful guide outlining the meaning, benefits, process and selection of NGOs. The objectives of the guide are “to encourage relevant NGOs to apply for consultative status with the Council, as well as to help organizations already in consultative status to get the most of this relationship while increasing their contribution to the work of ECOSOC.”

Running to some 44 pages, the guide provides  basic information about the way in which NGOs can interact with the United Nations in general and with ECOSOC in particular. It describes the different formal and informal mechanisms that civil society can utilize in order to work with the different ECOSOC Commissions.

The guide available in English and Portuguese versions can be downloaded from this link.

 
Source Link: http://www.fundsforngos.org/guides/ngos-obtain-consultative-status-united-nations-ecosoc/#ixzz1sOwsDCt3