Why an obligation to provide South Africans with free public benefit content has stalled.
An obligation placed on South Africa’s biggest mobile network operators (MNOs) to start providing free access to content from public benefit organisations (PBO) has stalled because discussions with the communications regulator are yet to be finalised. This obligation was created following last year’s successful spectrum auction, where Telkom, Vodacom, MTN, Rain, Cell C and Liquid […]
eNCA Interview: Zero-rating – Making information accessible to everyone
In a recent discussion on eNCA, DGMT CEO David Harrison laid out a vision of connectivity and opportunity for South Africa. He made it clear: the door is open for mobile network operators (MNOs) to join DGMT’s Social Innovation Register and begin zero-rating public benefit organisations (PBOs). Zero-rating isn’t just about free data—it’s a […]
Learning Brief – Blended learning: When partnerships spark innovation
This learning brief explores how partnerships between government, civil society and communities led to innovations aimed at tackling a number of challenges impacting quintile 1–3 schools in South Africa, serving some of the country’s poorest children. To read this learning brief, download a PDF here or read it magazine-style on ISSUU here. […]
Communications tools & active citizenry
The Learning Lunch podcast explores ideas, approaches and social innovations – creating opportunity for non-profit organisations’ teams to discover what others are learning and space to reflect on what these insights might mean for their own strategy and programme implementation. Takeaways instructions Many civil society organisations (CSOs) have placed promoting active citizenry at the core […]
Zero rating: A bridge across the digital divide
The Learning Lunch podcast explores ideas, approaches and social innovations – creating opportunity for non-profit organisations’ teams to discover what others are learning and space to reflect on what these insights might mean for their own strategy and programme implementation. Takeaways instructions Mobile technology has the potential to transcend structural divides and enhance access to […]
Learning Brief – Building coalitions: The power of synergy
Apartheid’s legacy continues to divide us in deep and undeniable ways, but civil society coalitions across class, race and economic sectors can inspire new ways of accelerating change. This learning brief explores communications and advocacy campaigns that demonstrate the power of coalitions to effect transformation. It includes case studies of Messages for Mothers (M4M), Youth […]
Learning Brief: Lessons from zero-rated websites
Zero-rating means that a user can access a specific website for free. Civil society organisations know that having their digital content zero-rated is a major advantage because zero-rating democratises access to information and resources online. But the zero-rating advantage can only be fully realised once CSOs meet the needs of their target audiences. This means […]
POPIA Guidelines: A guide to the the Protection of Personal Information Act for NGOs
Many NGOs may feel intimidated by the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI Act or POPIA). To assist you we have compiled a guideline that unpacks, in simple language, the most essential aspects of the Act that NGOs need to know and understand in order to take the first steps towards getting compliant. Download the […]
Hands-on Learning Issue 19
CLICK HERE TO READ HANDS-ON LEARNING ISSUE 19. Through our Hands-on Learning publication, we hope to play a helpful role in synthesising information from innovators and implementers in civil society, supporting them to share what they have learned so that others are able to draw from and build on their experiences. Read below a short […]
Learning Brief: Datafree – Building on digital gains made during the COVID pandemic
While the COVID-19 pandemic further cemented South Africa’s wide socio-economic disparity, it also demonstrated the power of mobile technology to jump the gap. This learning brief explores how and why public benefit organisations (PB0s) fought to achieve zero-rating during the country’s national lockdown, and the next essential steps and challenges that lie ahead to ensure […]
