Introduction

The purpose of the survey was to establish:

•How effectively South African NGOs are using information technology
•The ICT resources that NGOs currently have

South Africa NGO •How they make use of these resources, expectations of and use of these
resources.
ICT Impact Study 2007 •What innovative uses NGOs are putting ICTs, and ICT’s role in development
initiatives
•Is the use of ICT making a difference in their ability to serve their constituencies
•Whether they are adequately served by the ICT industry.
Steven Ambrose CA (SA) The results will be used to explore means of improving NGOs’ access to ICT, and
World Wide Worx (Pty)
their ability to benefit from such access. The study will also be useful in
Ltd
highlighting the needs of this sector, and how the industry can respond in order to
meet the specific needs of the NGO sector.

Research Methodology Research Geography

Location Respondents %
World Wide Worx conducted interviews with 300 NGO IT and financial
Gauteng - Jhb 54 18
decision-makers.
Gauteng - PTA 13 4
Gauteng - other 41 14
These were selected from a broad spectrum of NGOs across South Africa.
W Cape - CT 79 26
W Cape - rural 19 6.33
The initial sample was 200 respondents, which was subsequently
KZN - Durban 9 3
increased to 300 respondents to ensure statistical validity.
KZN - PMB 4 1
KZN - rural 35 12
For most questions, the resultant variance in results was no more than
E Cape - urban 8 2
2% between the 200 sample and the 300 sample, indicating that the
E Cape - rural 17 6
findings are robust and statistically valid.
Free State 5 2
Limpopo 3 1
Mpumalanga 6 2
North West 7 2
Total 300 100
 Research Size and Scale of
Research Programme Areas
respondents
Core Programme Areas Respondents
Adult Basic Education 41
59% consists of single-branch NGOs
Advocacy 36
11% of two branches
Capacity Building 41
Community Development 54
7% between 6 and 10 branches
Disability 22
Democracy and Public Participation 15
10% more than 10 branches
Early Childhood Development 40
Environment 18
Gender 24 More than 60% of the respondents were either
HIV/AIDS 59
CEOs, Managers, Finance Managers or IT
Human Rights 46
Rural Development 27
administrators.
Sustainable Development 21
Other 44

Research Size and Scale of Findings - Almost All NGO’s rely

respondents on IT
27% of responding NGOs had 5 or less NGO’s are mainstream Computer users
full-time employees 1% of respondents did not have any PCs
19% had 6-10 employees 6% had only one PCs
25% had 11-20 employees 33% of respondents had more than 10 PCs
16% had 21-50 employees 73% of respondents used laptop computers
13% had more than 50 employees 34% had only one and 23% had two laptops.
Only 19% did not have servers.
Findings - Almost All NGO’s rely
Findings - Almost All NGO’s rely on IT
on IT
Even the network infrastructure is mainstream

Operating systems: NGOs are mainstream users 70% use cable for networking
95% of respondents use Microsoft Windows 9% use wireless

69% use Windows XP and 26% other versions 21% use both
80% use a network operating system
Which means 30% use wireless networking

75% use a version of Windows for the network

Only 4% use open source network operating system.

1% of respondents use other proprietary software

Findings - Almost All NGO’s rely

ICT Technologies-what NGOs Use
on IT
Office Software Suites also Mainstream 100% use Fixed line telephone
94 % use Microsoft Office Suites 100% use Fax
6 % use other Suites 99% use E-mail

mainly Open Office and Star Office 78% make use of a PABX
65% use Mobile telephones
18% use VoIP (Voice over Internet, e.g. Skype)
12% use Instant messaging (Windows Messenger)
3% use Paging
ICT Technologies-what NGOs Use ICT Adoption- How NGO’s rate

ICT Adoption- NGO’s rate

ICT Adoption- Accounting Software
themselves
86% use some form of accounting software

The software in use:

Pastel 76%
AccPac 7%
QuickBooks 6%
Excel 2%
Other 7%
 How is the IT support function
ICT Adoption- CRM Software
Only 23% use some form of CRM software or System
handled ?
Right! said Fred
Of these the following are the main systems:-
MS Access 40% 32% An ad hoc staff member who knows computers
MS Excel 26% 29% The financial department or manager
MS Outlook/Outlook Express 13%
27% A dedicated IT function
Other 6%
3% The maintenance department or manager
Microsoft CRM 4%
6% Other – Fred ?
Goldmine 4%
Custom 4%

How is the IT support function NGO’s Custom Software and

handled ? Satisfaction
49 % of NGO’s use some form of Custom software

16% develop their own

33% commission software development
NGO’s Custom Software and
Internet Connectivity
Satisfaction

Satisfaction Measures Trusted source of advice for IT

31% Local systems integrator/support provider

21% Local software/hardware supplier
17% Consultant
8% Friend
7% Other non-profit colleagues
7% Other
3% The Internet in general
Strategic Issues
Differentiation and Opportunities
38% NGO staff telecommute, Work outside the office
48% Have no Technology plan in place
3% Use Fundraising software, most stated Sangonet was this
software Thank You
Impact of ICT on NGO’s abilities to deliver core activities:

Advance training and educational initiatives 59% Steven Ambrose CA (SA)

Advance developmental initiatives 58% World Wide Worx (Pty) Ltd

Advance human rights 54% 011 782 7003

Advance capacity-building initiatives 50% Steven@theworx.biz
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