South Asia News

Indian NGO network encourages philanthropists to get involved

IndianNgos.com, a national network of Indian NGOs, has devised a programme called People with Power to Give (P2G) to encourage the direct involvement of local philanthropists with Indian non-profits. Membership in P2G gives donors access to thousands of pages of NGO information; training programmes on non-profit governance, measurement and social responsibility; volunteer opportunities: and a service which matches donors with an NGO closely linked to their interests. IndianNGOs publishes an e-magazine, http://www.youandsocialpartnerships.com.

Source: Global Giving Matters, Dec 2002-Jan 2003 issue.

Corporate citizenship key driver for companies in India

Indian companies see corporate social responsibility as central to corporate action, with ‘passive philanthropy’ no longer sufficient in the face of rising expectations, according to the CSR Survey 2002 India report. The report surveyed 102 Indian companies and was conducted jointly by UNDP, the British Council, the Confederation of Indian Industry and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

It found that the most important factor in Indian firms’ involvement in CSR is the desire to be a good corporate citizen. This was seen as related to brand reputation and improved ties with local communities.

From a purely commercial point of view, however, Indian companies remain to be convinced of the value of CSR, many citing the lack of a demonstrable link between CSR and financial success as the key deterrent to taking action.

Source: Business Respect newsletter No 45, 14 Dec 2002, via India Times.

Citizens’ voice makes itself heard in Nepal

Launched in mid-2002, shortly after the Royal Palace massacre, Nagarik Aawaz (NA) – in English, citizens’ voice – is a forum of non-partisan, non-profit, secular individuals and organizations whose aim is to work for a peaceful environment in which effective economic, social and political development can occur in Nepal.

NA works through a number of means such as the creation of significant public opinion against all forms of violence through survivor testimony, public polls, and knowledge dissemination; the provision of practical and emotional support to victims; advocacy and training for conflict resolution and peace-building programmes, including provision of support to NGOs conducting relief work in the areas affected by violent conflict.

For more details, contact naawaz@ntc.net.np

Book launch and seminar on Indian diaspora giving

CAF India held a one-day seminar on 31 January to accompany the launch of a book entitled Indian Diaspora and Giving Patterns of Indian Americans. The seminar debated the role that the Indian diaspora in the US could play in such areas as healthcare, primary education, and investment in microcredit in India.

The book, comprisiing articles on the US Indian diaspora, includes a survey of 150 Indian Americans, 50 of whom were new arrivals in the country. While nearly 18 per cent had made charitable donations more than five times in the past two years, the survey found an inverse relation between duration of stay and charitable giving. Many said that with tax benefits from IRS and an online giving facility, they would be willing to donate more.

For more information or to order a copy of the book, contact R Gopa Kumar at kgopan@hotmail.com or CAFIndia at cafindia@cafonline.org

NGORC workshop on NPO governance

At a workshop on ‘Governance in Non-profit Organizations’ in December 2002, NGORC shared the results of its recently concluded research on the governing bodies of intermediary NGOs in Pakistan. Among its chief findings were that NGO boards in Pakistan do not have adequate representation from the public and business sectors. This results in inward-looking boards of development activists and professionals who have limited contact with the outside world. The study stresses the need to inform and train board members about their potential roles and responsibilities. Workshop sessions included the basic responsibilities of nonprofit boards; efficient organization of the board; its role in fundraising; and the relationship between board and chief executive.

For more details, contact Qadeer Baig at NGORC at qadeer.baig@ngorc.org.pk

Publications

For God’s Sake: Religious charity and social development in India
Sampradaan Indian Centre for Philanthropy Rs 285/US $25 +p&p

A collection of 12 case studies covering different religions, the book provides information on the receipt and use of charitable funds by religious organizations in India.

To order, contact SICP.
Tel + 91 11 689 9368/612 1917
Email icp@ndb.vsnl.net.in or info@sampradaan.org
Website http://www.sampradaan.org

An introduction to the non-profit sector in Nepal
Allavida/Integrated Institute for Development Studies  £12.50
An introduction to the non-profit sector in Bangladesh
Allavida/Bangladesh Freedom Foundation £15

The latest in a series of country reports presenting key facts on the country’s non-profit sector, including funding sources and the legal and fiscal environment, plus case studies and a list of useful contacts. They also look at the role of foreign donors and the challenges facing the sector.

Working with the non-profit sector in India Allavida/CAF India £40

A comprehensive guide giving all the detailed information required by anyone, whether funder or operating organization, working in India. It provides an overview of the NGO sector in India, detailed practical information, plus a wide range of case studies

To order, contact Allavida at publishing@allavida.org
Website http://www.allavida.org/publishing

If buying from the same country, reports can be ordered from co-publishers.
In Nepal: iids@iids.wlink.com.np
In Bangladesh: edbff@bdcom.com
In India: cafindia@cafonline.org

Online resources

NGORC Journal (quarterly) is available on http://www.ngorc.org.pk


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