While technology plays a vital role in helping non-governmental organisations (NGOs) leverage their scarce resources more effectively, it is also a significant budget strain.
In light of this, Prefix Technologies, in conjunction with Sangotech, the technological arm of SA's network of NGOs, is stepping up to bolster these organisations' communications infrastructure.
Prefix Technologies announced this week it would supply NGOs with its bulk e-mail software, pMailer, free of charge.
According to Walter Penfold, MD of Prefix, it aims to give NGOs a tool that will help them overcome the serious communication challenges they face. “NGOs have always played a key role in helping SA's marginalised population groups turn their lives around. As government struggles to meet its service delivery targets, the role of NGOs is becoming more and more vital.”
The pMailer NGO programme will give local NGOs 1 000 free e-mails per month, with the option to purchase more credits at a reduced rate.
The service will be made available to the cash-strapped organisations via Sangotech, a technology donation and discount portal created by TechSoup Global and Sangonet. Sangotech helps NGOs by facilitating economical software and by assisting NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure.
Penfold says the business sector needs to come to the party. “[The sector] needs to recognise the sterling work these organisations are doing to create a more equitable society, and get behind them with positive initiatives that offer tangible benefits.”
Social investment
pMailer's NGO programme follows two months after the launch of the firm's Tech for Schools corporate social investment initiative. The project saw nominated schools receive a pMailer account with 6 000 free e-mail credits per month, forever.
Penfold says the Tech for Schools campaign aims to contribute to positive social change by encouraging schools to use technology in order to become more efficient and environmentally-friendly.
“Bulk e-mail can help schools cut costs by reducing the amount of paper and postage services they use, while lowering the administrative burden of communication.”
Penfold explains: “NGOs are currently under greater threat than ever as funding dries up in the wake of the global recession. Like businesses, NGOs need to develop affordable and accurate channels to communicate with all their stakeholders, particularly funders. Building relationships is going to be key for NGOs to continue accessing the funds they need.”
He adds that communications technology has an even broader role to play, as NGOs “are increasingly going to collaborate with each other, particularly in responding to specific crisis situations”.
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