Corporate Social Review Magazine 1st Quarter 2013 | Page 57

the sharing of talents, abilities and resources.
In the coming year the NLB is looking at establishing Norms &
Standards for NGOs, addressing sustainability and ensuring that
the grants we give and the projects we support all align with the
Governments National Development Plan.
The NLB is the custodian of Norms & Standards for NGOs and it
is our duty to assist them by aligning with and helping to meet our
governments stated aims of Job Creation, Defeating Poverty and
Reducing Inequalities.
This year we are also taking a much needed leap forward with the
introduction of South Africa’s first ever NGO awards. This sector
needs to be acknowledged and supported and these awards
will provide a national platform from which to promote and set
Standards, Norms and Good Practices within the sector, as well
as encouraging accountability and transparency.
The awards will also provide examples and inspiration for other
non-profit organizations, promote cross-regional learning,
recognise and celebrate excellence and, we sincerely hope,
encourage and promote the funding of NGOs and their essential
activities in our communities across South Africa.
In conclusion I want to say this:
This year I want the NLB to focus strongly on the vast disparity that
exists between urban and rural communities in terms of NGOs
funding and the facilities available in our desperately underserved rural areas. Areas where our NGOs often work entirely
alone and unsupported.

3Sixty 0029

Anyone who has seen the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS,
or has witnessed at first-hand how limited the access to such
fundamentals as water and health care are; anyone who has seen

the terrible impact these fundamental failings have on the welfare
of our poorest and most needy citizens in our rural areas cannot
help but realise that this simply must change.
Together as a group we need to find a way to address these
critical needs in the deep rural areas and come up with workable
solutions that can be implemented with the greatest possible
sense of urgency.
With this in mind, we need to create a national dialogue, we need
to work together, pull in the same direction, travel the same road.
And, of course, we need to make sure that we have our priorities
right when we do.
Our country needs us to stand as one in this, to march in step, to
travel the road together. If we fail in this then we fail them. And we
dare not, we must not do that.
And so, today, as we all walk together through these woods, we
find ourselves at a cross-roads, a place where decisions are
made.
Today we find ourselves faced with a future full of possibilities, not
impossibilities.
Today we find ourselves presented with the opportunity to journey
together, to pull together, to work and to strive together in the hope
that these combined efforts – informed by dialogue, discussion
and discourse – will make all the difference in the world.
I, for one, am here to see, to listen and to respond. I hope that
you are too.
I thank you and encourage you to participate in these debates
that can bring about change.

PEOPLE & PARKS
Land ownership and management

Access and benefit sharing

Organizing for implementation

Conservation for the
People with the People

The Department of Environmental Affairs together with it’s National and Provincial
Protected Area Agencies, are the custodians of the People and Parks Programme.
ResourceAfrica is an Environmental Development NGO that has been championing the
People and Parks Programme in partnership with the DEA and with the support of the
National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
ResourceAfrica has developed several innovative approaches to capacitate local communities about protected area management and to understand their roles and responsibilities
as well as their rights and benefits from the park. The NGO conducts two day workshops with
Park Stakeholders across the country using a tailor made People and Parks Toolkit and
uses Theatre to further create awareness amongst the youth about protected areas and
the value of conservation. In addition to this, ResourceAfrica has been assisting parks and
local SMMEs to work together so that communities are able to benefit from the many
business opportunities that are generated by the Parks and private operators.
In the process of conducting these workshops across all 9 provinces, communities have
also shared their experiences with regards to many contentious issues such as climate
change and the scourge of poaching. Communities living adjacent to Protected Areas
have an enormous role to play in protecting South Africa’s natural resources!!!

www.resourceafrica.org • 011 805 8007

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