The web 2.0 revolution conquers European NGOs

Translated from the posting in italian by Paolo Ferrara, TDH Italy

Last week, I had the great opportunity to participate in a Web 2.0 seminar organised in Brussels by Concord and Euforic, two of the major NGO networks in Europe.

These were two magnificent days, both from a human as well as from a profesional perspective. They allowed me to pick up certain issues that we also try to promote here in Italy via this blog, and with the support of Francesco Santini (Nonprofitblog and Internet Fundraising), and of Daniele Fusi (the 2.0 inspiration for Lentatiblog). Two days that made me realise that we still have a gap to fill.

The most enriching meeting was with Steve Bridger, one of the founders of this blog, who did a very interesting presentation on Fundraising 2.0, that I have posted here. This presentation raised lots of issues; several of which require more analysis.

But first let me show you a video...



What is the relation between this report and Steve's presentation? Follow me and I'll tell you...

Let's take a close look at some main points of Steve's presentation:

• the donors we are dealing with are changing, access to information is more important, donors show less loyalty and behave more like consumers and do not hesitate to ask. It is the donor who selects the issues - not the organisations - the donor wants to take part and stay informed about the impact of the aid (and of the time that it takes);

• online donations are not the future. They are today's reality. Within 24 hours , between 30 and 31 December 2004, 5 million pounds were raised in the UK. In the years 2005 and 2006 together, Oxfam UK collected online 13 million pounds (including its Oxfam Unwrapped); the Darfur appeal launched by the British DEC on 24 May has already collected 3 million pounds; every year 30% of the regular donors of MSF UK give a significantly higher amount that normal;

• The blogs and the self-made videos that tell human stories (like the previous report shows, including the emotional effect), are definitely the most interesting for the NGO world. And, like Seth Godin says: the best blogs generate conversations, and do not control them;

• fundraising staff et social networks (facebook, myspace, linkedin and the bright new Bring light on which I will draft a post soon) represent the new frontiers where we have to find the volonteers that we need to be able to accompany, and encourage them to share, and be transformed into fundraisers;
  

• being on blog 2.0 is not without risks. From those related to your organisations' reputation to those that concern the security of staff in dangerous areas… But one of the main risks is related to those who support us: are they ready for change? (see slide 75 from Steve… it contains a very interesting profile);

• not everything can be calculated, but once the objectives are defined, we need to learn to define what can be.
  

It is particularly interesting to see that these trends are appearing in the whole world. Not just on the British Isles or in the United States with their technological focus. These trends appear in the whole of Europe, including in countries such as Greece. Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and even in India, Kenya or South Africa.

To assess the scale of Web 2.0 (and in a certain way also the distance that separates us from the rest of Europe), I believe it is useful to enhance our capacities to transfer knowledge (what the Anglo-Saxons call "Knowledge Management").

In three meeting rooms equipped with wifi and several laptops simultaniously online, surfing to the examples and experimenting with sharing as a "modus operandi", we could participate in three really great presentations.

Just take a look at what has been produced at this seminar, thanks to the skills of Joitske Hulsebosch (included her blog in the RSS), of Nancy White, and of the Euforic team (especially Pier Andrea Pirani, Birthe Paul and Martin Behrens) and of Concord (including several Italians which proves that also in the non-profit sector we have trouble to keep our best brains).

An official blog has been set up, well updated and including videos, testimonies, interviews, links and reports of what has happened in these three meeting rooms during two intensive working days. Check out the blog that makes an interesting use of RSS and contains an updated set of posts that were publised at the seminar in other blogs. Furthermore, it explains to you everything that was done and that I cannot entirely summarise in this post.

There is also a section on Slideshare, which gives you access to nearly all the presentations of the seminar, a set of contact details of several participants and other presentations related to the various topics.

A section on Flickr should not be missed with photos of the event, as well as a wiki, that allowed participants to start experimenting with shaping the content that was created by the users. The most interesting is that, thanks to this experimenting, someone was able to create his first blog (like our dear friend Dimitar from Bulgaria).

Resuming, Web 2.0 offers the possibility to develop very interesting novelties and, I cannot stop reminding this, to bring together a great number of very motivated people who, luckily, also have the chance to get to know each other.

And finally I would like to use this opportunity to greet Claudia (Romania), Camille (France), Genny (Greece), Dimitar (Bulgary), Chiara (from Italy but based in Brussels for TDH) and Anna, participants with whom I spent a pleasant evening around the Grand Place.

La révolution du web 2.0 conquiert les ONG européennes

Traduction de l'article en italien par Paolo Ferrara, TDH Italie

J'ai eu la semaine passée la grande opportunité de participer à un séminaire sur web 2.0 organisé à Bruxelles par Concord et par Euforic, deux des plus importants réseaux d'ONG en Europe.

Deux journées fantastiques, très belles tant d'un point de vue humain que professionnel, qui ont permis de reprendre certains thèmes que nous nous efforçons de diffuser aussi ici en Italie, à partir de ce blog, mais désormais aussi avec Francesco Santini (Nonprofitblog et Internet Fundraising) et avec Daniele Fusi (l'âme 2.0 de Lentatiblog). Deux journées qui m'ont aussi permis de prendre conscience que nous avons encore un gap à remplir.

La rencontre la plus enrichissante a été celle avec Steve Bridger, un des pères de ce blog, qui a illustré la très intéressante présentation sur le Fundraising 2.0, que j'ai publié dans le post précédent. Une intervention riche en thèmes, dont certains se doivent d’être approfondis.

Mais avant cela permettez-moi de vous montrer une vidéo...



Quel est le rapport entre ce reportage et la présentation de Steve? Suivez-moi et je vous le dirai...

Mais voyons de plus prêt certains points essentiels de la présentation de Steve:

• le donateur que nous avons face à nous est en train de changer, l'accès à l'information est plus important, il est moins loyal, se comporte davantage comme un consommateur et n'hésite pas à demander. C'est un donateur qui choisit les causes, et non pas les organisations, et veut participer, être informé sur l'impact de son aide (et du temps qu'il y consacre);

• les donations online ne sont pas le futur. Elles représentent le présent. En 24 heures, entre le 30 et le 31 décembre 2004, 5 millions de livres sterling ont été rassemblées au Royaume-Uni. Dans les deux ans 2005-2006, Oxfam UK a réuni online 13 millions de livres sterling (y compris son Oxfam Unwrapped); l'appel sur le Darfour lancé par le DEC anglais le 24 mai a récolté déjà 3 millions de livres sterling; chaque année 30% de donateurs réguliers de MSF UK versent online avec une donation moyenne nettement supérieure à celle traditionnelle;

• certaines tendances sont communes à presque tous les pays. Les blogs et les vidéos autoproduites, avec leur capacité de raconter des histoires humaines (comme le démontre le reportage plus haut, et les émotions qui en dégagent), sont certainement les plus intéressantes pour le monde des ONG. Et, comme affirme, Seth Godin: les meilleurs blogs donnent naissance aux conversations, et ne les contrôlent pas;

• le fundraising personnel et les network sociaux (facebook, myspace, linkedin et le tout nouveau Bring light auquel je dédierai bientôt un post) représentent les nouvelles frontières où nous devrons aller chercher les volontaires, que nous devront être capables d'accompagner, de rendre participatifs et de transformer en fundraiser;
  

• se trouver sur blog 2.0 n'est pas sans risques. A partir de ceux relatifs à sa propre réputation, à ceux qui intéressent la sécurité de ses propres opérateurs dans des zones dangereuses… Mais un des risques majeurs est celui lié à ceux qui nous appuient: sont-ils prêts au changement? (lisez la slide 75 de Steve…elle contient un profil vraiment intéressant);

• tout ne peut pas être calculé, mais une fois établis les objectifs, nous devons apprendre à mesurer ce qui peut l'être;

Ce qui est particulièrement intéressant est que ces tendances prennent désormais forme dans le monde entier. Non seulement dans la péninsule britannique si technologique ou aux Etats-Unis. Ces tendances parcourent toute l'Europe, y compris des pays comme la Grèce, la Roumanie, la Bulgarie et la Turquie, jusqu'à l'Inde, le Kenya ou l'Afrique du Sud.

Mais afin de voir en action la portée du web 2.0 (et d'une certaine façon aussi la distance qui nous sépare du reste de l'Europe), je crois qu'il est utile d'approfondir surtout la capacité de transférer des connaissances (ce que les anglo-saxons appellent "Knowledge Management").

Dans trois salles dotées d'un réseau wireless et de plusieurs ordinateurs portables en fonction au même instant, navigant sur les exemples proposés et expérimentant la condivision come "modus operandi", nous avons pu assister à des démonstrations véritablement grandioses.

Il suffit de donner un coup d'œil à ce qui a été produit durant le séminaire, grâce à la capacité de Joitske Hulsebosch (mettez son blog dans les RSS), de Nancy White, du team de Euforic (en particulier Pier Andrea Pirani, Birthe Paul et Martin Behrens) et de Concord (parmi lesquels plusieurs italiens, ce qui prouve comme aussi dans le non profit nous connaissons des difficultés à garder les meilleurs cerveaux).

Un blog officiel a été créé, très à jour, riche en vidéo, témoignages, entretiens, liens et compte-rendu sur ce tout ce qui a été fait dans les trois salles durant deux jours de travaux intenses. Donnez un coup d'œil au blog qui fait un usage très intéressant des RSS et contient un ensemble mis à jour de post publiés dans d'autres blogs sur le séminaire. En outre il vous racontera tout ce qui a été fait et que je ne saurais résumer entièrement dans un post.

Vous trouverez aussi une section sur Slideshare, d'où vous pourrez disposer de presque toutes les présentations du séminaire, une série de contacts avec les détails de certains participants et d'autres présentations liées aux thèmes traités.

Une section sur Flickr ne pouvait pas manquer, avec les photos de l'événement, ainsi qu'un wiki, grâce auquel les participants ont pu commencer à expérimenter comment prennent forme les contenus créés par les utilisateurs. Le plus intéressant est que, à force d'expérimenter, quelqu'un a créé son premier blog (comme le très cher Dimitar, brillant et très sympathique participant bulgare).

En conclusion, le Web 2.0 permet de développer des nouveautés très intéressantes et, comme je ne cesserai jamais de rappeler, réunit bon nombre de personnes très motivées qui, heureusement, ont aussi la chance de faire connaissance.

Avant de conclure, je profite du blog pour saluer Claudia (roumaine), Camille (française), Genny (grecque), Dimitar (bulgare), Chiara (italienne à Bruxelles pour Tdh) et Anna, participants avec lesquels j’ai passé une belle soirée dans les alentours de la Grande Place.

Learning a common language of development

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In this interview in Italian, Paolo Ferrara (Terre des Hommes Italy) explains the main lessons he brings back home from the Euforic/Concord meeting.

In particular, Paolo took part in the sessions on fundraising, campaigning and advocacy. From the presentations, the group discussions, and different talks during the coffee-breaks, he identifies four main lessons he learned during these days in Brussels.

"First and foremost, when undertaking a campaign or an advocacy activity, you need to clearly formulate a strategy and the objectives you want to achieve. Further, you need to put in place coordination mechanisms among the different actors involved. Moreover, you need to identify specific targets, internal as well as external to your constituency. Last but not least, the most important lessons I take with me is how valuable events like this one are, in order to start talking a common language, sharing a common vision of the future and eventually working together in a more effective way".

If you read Italian, you can see more about Paolo's impressions on his blog.

Emergent information and knowledge management issues

Brussels, 6 June. During the open space session, Mike Powell explained the new IKM (Information Knowledge Management) Emergent Issues programme:

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The programme has been developed over the past years by Mike and colleagues from the EADI information management working group. It recently received funding from the Dutch Development Ministry.

The programme has its root in a critical view on the current narrow use of knowledge in the sector. Information needs to be more available in formats people can use. It will hence look at content issues, format and languages of knowledge. How can a range of information be handled without drowning in materials?

The idea is that the programme will not provide answers - it will raise issues and illustrate problems and ideas for solving them. It's an open programme, engaging a wide range of actors (including artists) and it will work as much as possible through existing networks. Get further information about the IKM programme or visit: www.ikmemergent.net

Imparare a parlare di sviluppo usando un linguaggio comune

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In questa intervista, Paolo Ferrara (Terre des Hommes Italia) spiega quali sono i principali insegnamenti che si porta a casa dal meeting organizzato da Euforic e Concord.

In particolare, Paolo ha partecipato alle sessioni su 'fundraising', 'campaigning' ed 'advocacy'. Dalle presentazioni, dalle discussioni in gruppo e da conversazioni informali durante i diversi coffe-break, sono quattro le lezioni principali imparate durante questi giorni a Bruxelles: su tutte, l'imporanza di incontri come questo per incominciare a parlare di sviluppo usando un linguaggio comune.

Per conoscere di più sulle impressioni di Paolo, potete consultare il suo blog.

Barriers to knowledge sharing in Africa

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Talking about African knowledge consumers, François Stepman (FOMETRO) talks about the bias towards content produced in the north and argues that the Africans need to be much more self-confident about their products.

During the Africa-Europe knowledge exchange roundtable, he suggests that Africans are not consuming the information and knowledge produced on the continent for a lack of confidence in their own capacities to produce relevant content.

At the same time, sharing information and knowledge among peers is far from seen as a win-win situation. It often does not happen due to a "survival reflex." For many people in difficult situations, keeping information is still seen as the best way to compete.

NGOs and the press

Brussels, 6 June. During the Peer to Peer exchange session on advocacy, Christine Coudour, from European Voice gave an interesting presentation on the paper's cooperation with NGOs.

She argued that NGOs are still quite sceptical when it comes to contacts with the press. She described how civil society organisations can raise awareness among European policy makers by using a newspaper for campaigning.

Emphasising that European Voice is distributed to all EU policy makers, 'advertisements' are an important tool to reach target groups. Nevertheless newspapers are profit-making enterprises and will not usually offer their services for free. Although she can help NGOs to find a perfect format to suit a campaign, NGOs need to raise funds to cover the costs.

After the session two participants shared their perspectives on working with the media:

Marta Pejda - Gruppa Zagrancia (Poland): Click To Play

Florent Sebban - Eurostep (Brussels): Click To Play

Story by Martin Behrens

Building knowledge sharing and learning networks for development

Brussels, 6 June. The first peer-2-peer exchange session focused on different ways in which organisations are moving beyond information dissemination and exchange to build spaces for change. Speakers included Wilma Roem (ILEIA), Danny Aerts (ATOL) and Niels Keijzer (ECDPM). Read the articles...

Communication strategies and tools for development organisations and networks

The 4th peer-2-peer session on 6 June looked different strategies, approaches and tools by which development results and activities are communicated. Speakers includes Anna Pollari (KEHYS), David Barnard (SangoNet), and Elisa Rafamatanantsoa (ACP Local Government Forum). Read all the stories ...

R4D – accessing, sharing and using development research information

Brussels, 6 June. Led and facilitated by Can Akdeniz (EADI), this peer-2-peer session session included presentations by Françoise Moreau (DG Development), Catherine Fisher (IDS), and Joseph Ngwawi (SARDC). They explored approaches and tools by which the outputs of policy and research organizations are documented, accessed, and communicated. Read the stories ...

Connecting networks for more effective cooperation

Brussels, 6 June. In the open space on the afternoon, we identified six issues and projects to further discuss and plan in smaller groups. Read the articles ...

European development report: a historic initiative?

Brussels, 6 June. Following the challenging development commitments in 2005, several Member States and the European Commission are putting their efforts together to launch an annual of ambitious development reports, to strengthen the linkages of the development research with policymaking. During the R4D session facilitated by EADI, Françoise Moreau, DG Development, presented the European development report. The following entry is a comment by Can Akdeniz, EADI.

Françoise Moreau in small group - Originally uploaded by euforic

Research community in Europe

Anyone taking a closer look at the existing development research sector (including or as part of international and area studies) in Europe would surely conclude that there is a large and high-quality intellectual capacity on development issues covering almost all areas, topics and disciplines. At the heart of this capacity are the institutes of development studies, development research centres and think-tanks. They are producing academic and applied research, policy analysis and advice of very diverse character. More than 150 of these institutes in 28 countries of Europe and employing more than 3000 academics and researchers are members of the European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes, EADI.

However, there have been no real incentives for European development researchers to develop more international co-operative research projects at the European level to date. Such efforts should aim at developing a joint pan-European capacity on global development issues and Europe’s role in the world. Furthermore, no sufficient frameworks exist within which one could work out how research in Europe could be translated into better European policy and practice. Up until now it was left to national development agencies, universities and research councils to provide continuous support to the development research capacity in Europe. This support has more or less reflected the local needs of national constituencies i.e. bilateral donors rather than European needs in research, analysis and advice.

Policies of research donors in Europe

At the same time bilateral agencies that have paid special attention to development research have chosen to do so by supporting national capacities and sometimes Southern research capacities. Strengthened research capacities in the South have an effect on target group commitment, uptake capacity and national innovation systems, thus improving the impact of research by enhancing the uptake and application of research results.

However, the strong focus on strengthening Southern research capacities has left something of a gap in the whole picture, especially concerning the question: How to best improve the impact and utilise research produced in Europe in Southern contexts? At the same time, many bilateral agencies are supporting their national development research communities (institutes, universities or networks) to meet their specific knowledge needs in international affairs and development issues. We could easily quote and list many such examples in Europe. It seems that local needs are unlikely to disappear. Some bilateral agencies are already making efforts to improve the impact of the research funded by themselves. DFID’s research4development (http://www.research4development.info/) portal is one example.

Bridging the gap

In December 2005, the European Union (EU) published its new development policy the European Consensus on Development”, signed by the European Commission, Council, Parliament and the 25 member states. The European Consensus is ambitious as it puts forward a unified EU strategy. Principles and values for international development are formulated for the bilateral policy of both the Commission and member states. The European Consensus on Development, therefore, highlights the need to stimulate the debate on development in Europe, to enhance analytical capacity at European level and to strengthen the linkages with policy making.

These concepts are further refined in the Commission Communication "EU Aid: delivering more, better and faster" which proposes a European initiative aiming at enhancing the European vision on development and its influence in the international development agenda. At the EADI General Conference in 2005, the European Commissioner Louis Michel committed himself to finding ways of strengthening the contribution of the EU development research community to EU development policy. Discussions since then have crystallized around the idea of European Development Report, annual research-led review of development issues and a European counterpart to other major flagship global reports.

Story by Can Akdeniz, EADI

Social internet tools to share and communicate development information

In this ‘web2share’ awareness/training session on 5th June, Chris Addison showed how user-generated content and participatory web tools can transform the way development content is shared. Includes hand-on with some basic applications.

The objective of the Web2Share workshop was to introduce, with illustrations and demonstrations, some popular 'new web' applications; participants also had the opportunity to explore some of these tools for themselves, assessing and discussing their potential usefulness.

Read the stories...

Africa-Europe Roundtable: Food for thought

Brussels, 4 June. The plenary session of the Roundtable 'Towards more effective Africa-Europe information exchange, communication, and knowledge collaboration' kicked off with contributions from three people working with African information and media.

Joseph Ngawi of the Southern Africa Research Documentation Centre (SARDC) presented its Virtual Library catalogue of publications on Southern Africa. SARDC coverS six programme areas: THE environment, gender, human development, sustainable governance, media and regional development. The services allow you to search the site library, experts database and the southern africa media network. Many of the SARDC featured publications are available online such as the Mozambique national development report produced in conjunction with UNDP.

This major resource is not well known enough in Europe and Joseph would like to work with partners to make the virtual library known more widely through information sharing and exchange.

Africa-Europe Internet

David Barnard introduced Sangonet which began life as an alternative communications network in the 80s. In the 90s Sangonet developed into an ISP for NGOs in Southern Africa. Sangonet believes that by improving information flows, the development process can be improved. Sangonet is now a faciltator rather than a service provider.

Linking civil society through ICTs is achieved through 3 activities: a) ICT advocacy, b) civil society information services, and c) ICT services. The historical context needs to be understood before sharing collaboration and communication can be maximised. Cost of information and technology is a major limitation - as are the digital differences between Europe and Africa (see map).

"No development without communication for development and no communication for development without the media." This was the message from Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard of the Pan-African Press Association.

The association has 2700 subscribers from African media organisers who receive 35 press releases a day from APPA. Their subscribers come from all over Africa with 50% being francophone. The APPA webcast is a new way to allow African journalists to cover international events - they can hear a conference through skype.

The three presentations all presented different interventions that support a similar purpose - the need for more communication. As Nicolas said: "No Development without Communication"

After the presentations, participants in one of the small groups exchanged ideas on the issues arising from the presentations. Check out 10 ways to improve Africa-Europe information exchange.

Story by Chris Addison

Ten ways to improve Africa-Europe information exchange

Brussels, 4 June. The following 10 lessons were drawn from a series of presentations, a world cafe session and a final chatshow forming the Africa-Europe Roundtable: Towards more effective Africa-Europe information exchange, communication, and knowledge collaboration.

1. Trust - There was some discussion on the need for trust in collaboration. There is sometimes a mistrust of actors from the North and donors and a need to emphasise learning from the ground. It is often easier for governments to engage with each other at international levels than for local NGOs to get together.
2. Understanding dialogue opportunities - New opportunities for a virtual dialogue are limited by access to technology. Many organizations use face to face dialogue linked with virtual discussions. Africa has the opportunity for NGOs to influence the African Commission through the forum organised by the African Commission for Development and Human Rights which is held prior to African Commission meetings.
3. Realistic time limits - For effective dialogue and exchange, sufficient time needs to be allowed. There was a worry that too many exchanges are held with unrealistic time limits.
4. Link to media - In order to ensure a wide audience, it is necessary to engage with the media. This was lacking in some of the projects discussed.
5. Validation of content - It was argues that African research is not valued as highly in Africa as as materials published in the north. It is not jut an increase in locally generated information that will lead to it being read. It needs to be validated.
6. Culture - In a survival economy, it is usual not to share information. Before introducing information exchange projects it is important to establish the local method of communication.
7. Alliance capacity - Capacities need to be built to form alliances across different sectors and different actors.
8. Imbalance between Africa Europe - Africa-Africa communication needs to be improved, direct communication is lacking and there is a need for much more peer to peer discussion.
9. Competition - The exchange of information between Africa and Europe is hindered by the degree of competiton between actors. Wher national governments and donors may have been the incumbent information providerss, NGOs now innovate, collaborate and compete.
10. New tools - Possibilities to exchange video and audio in electronic form and by internet change the nature of the exchange between Africa and Europe. Mobile telephone and voice over internet provide a new platform for creative opportunities to exchange information ideas and viewpoints.
    

Story by Chris Addison

Web2.0 - just a fashion?

Brussels, 4 June. During a dinner in a nice Italian restaurant, conference participants started a discussion about the current "hype" on web 2.0 for development. The question was raised whether using web2.0 is just a present fashion which will soon be replaced by a new version of communication technolgy.

While there is the notion of sharing and interactive internet technology which can make everybody participate, the question was raised if quality standards can still be kept at a high level. Web 2.0 journalism for example broadens participation and can in fact make everyone a writer. However increased participation might lead to a negative trade-off regarding journalistic quality standards.

For this reason the question remains how to combine the positive sides of quality journalism with broad user participation.

See more information on these issue in the Euforic dossier.

Story by Martin Behrens