The Trialogue CSI Conference, which will take place at The Forum in Bryanston, Johannesburg, on May 24 and 25 2016, will convene more than 20 sessions on various topics related to CSI and development in South Africa and beyond.
Trialogue’s founding director Nick Rockey will present on trends and insights into corporate giving, providing delegates with a broad overview of the CSI landscape in South Africa and an opportunity to reflect on how their organisations are faring.
Working together for an equitable South Africa
Keynote addresses will offer perspective on current social contexts and the challenges and potential that these present. Retired rector and vice-chancellor of the University of the Western Cape Professor Brian O’Connell will talk on the roles that various sectors in our society need to play in order to help realise a prosperous, equitable, democratic South Africa. Chief Executive, Business Day columnist and economic commentator Trudi Makhaya will make the case for an inclusive and sustainable economy which, from the World Economic Forum to the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund, world leaders are increasingly pledging their support towards.
Innovations in fundraising
A session on funding innovations will introduce the concepts of social enterprise, social impact bonds and insuring social initiatives as possible alternatives to non-profit organisations’ (NPOs) reliance on traditional donor funding.
To ensure healthy and sustainable working relationships, donors and fundraisers need to understand each other’s perspective and priorities. In a session on how to ensure relevance and adaptability in fundraising and grant-making, delegates will receive insight from someone who has been responsible for distributing and raising funds, has experienced the power and limitations of both roles and, as a result, champions the need for synergy between donors and fundraisers.
Educating and developing a skilled workforce
While education receives the lion’s share of both government and corporate’s social development spend, significant challenges within the sector persist. A panel discussion on collaboration in education will enliven the conference theme, profiling current multi-stakeholder-based initiatives in the sector and attempting to synthesise some key principles to the art of collaboration. A panel discussion on skills development and employability will also emphasise the priority of collaboration, discussing how government, business, NPOs and skills development agencies can and should collaborate to help ensure a skilled workforce.
Potential impact of renewable energy on community development
It is estimated that investments of over R25-billion will be put into enterprise and socioeconomic development in the communities where the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) projects are based. An in-depth session on the potential impact of the renewable energy sector on community development will unpack the strategies for more effective compliance and greater impact of the community development provisions of the REIPPP programme.
What Africans think about the SDGs
With the new Sustainable Development Goals in place, delegates will gain insight into what citizens in 36 African countries believe their governments’ most pressing issues to be, and how aligned these are with international developmental priorities. In keeping with a continental focus, we will also hear about various approaches to CSI in other African countries such as Ghana and Kenya. While CSI in South Africa is well established and formally driven by the country’s BBBEE Codes, there will also be opportunities for reflection on what developmental lessons South Africa can learn from its neighbours.
Holistic approaches to giving
The concept of conscious giving will also be unpacked, looking at how the emotional and human conditions impacting CSI initiatives can be better understood, managed and factored into strategic planning and monitoring and evaluation processes. In an interactive Donors’ Den-styled session, three carefully selected NPOs will have a unique opportunity to pitch a specific project to a panel of donors, and receive detailed feedback, empowering them with expert advice about how to hone their fundraising skills.
Book your place at the Trialogue CSI Conference 2016
Delegates will have opportunities to pose questions in plenary and participate in smaller breakout sessions to unpack topics in more detail. There will also be several networking opportunities, including a bustling exhibition area that will run throughout the conference, and a cocktail event sponsored by the MTN SA Foundation on the evening of May 24.
Click here to download the full draft programme.
Click here to book your ticket for the Trialogue CSI Conference 2016.