-------------------------------------------------- G D R C M o s a i c www.gdrc.org November 2005 -------------------------------------------------- Welcome to another edition of GDRC's Mosaic! This month, GDRC Mosaic is being set to more than 960 subscribers in 110 countries worldwide. -------------------------------------------------- THIS MONTH'S SPOTLIGHT: Financial Strategies for NGOs from GDRC's Programme on the NGO Cafe, in its "Kickstart an NGO" Section. "Having adequate finances to run programmes can make or break an NGO. But a really good idea will not have problems finding funds ... " As the programmes and projects of NGOs expand, the need for money to run their operations becomes all the more critical. Much of this comes from third party funding organizations, either in the country where the NGO operates, or in OECD countries that assist projects in developing countries. Based on the work of the NGO Cafe, a set of documents has been created to collate current thinking and resources on the topic. These are strategies for fund raising in general, and the Cafe itself does not disburse funds to NGOs. GDRC has been working on these and related issues . Resources on this topic are available at: http://www.gdrc.org/ngo/funding/fund-raising.html As with all sections of GDRC, contributions, comments and suggestions are always welcome from users and subscribers! Please contact GDRC's Coordinator at - mosaic@gdrc.org -------------------------------------------------- FOCUS ON GDRC: LEARNING LESSONS Not 1+2=3, but a+b=c And another mathematical formula to illustrate the information design practices of GDRC. To a large extent the content and format of information provided by the GDRC facilitates the user's thinking and decision-making processes. A wide variety of information is available for different purposes and audiences. It is very critical, therefore, that the info provided should enable the user to localize and customize it to fit the purpose for which it is sought. And hence the title of this piece. We need less of [1+2=3], i.e. whee info is fixed, specific/focused and linear, and more of [a+b=c]. i.e. where the user can put his/her own value to a and b and get as unique c. In other words, the user uses the info provided by localizing and customiszing it to the scale and situation where it is to be used. -------------------------------------------------- MONTHLY STATISTICS FOR GDRC'S WEBSITE Total hits encountered - 1,092,611 Total files downloaded - 909,359 Total pages viewed - 326,167 Total web visitors - 133,895 Total KBytes - 9,226,057 Pages per day - Avg. 10,872; Max. - 15,165 Visits per day - Avg. 4,463; Max. - 5,789 -------------------------------------------------- WHAT'S NEW AT GDRC'S WEBSITE? Some highlights of new items added to GDRC's programmes: - Sustainable Development: Concepts related to Innovative Communities - Urban Environmental Management: Disaster Managenment - Info on World Disaster Day - Gender and Development: Gender Mainstreaming Learning Manual and Information Pack - Microfinance: New Special Theme - 'Microfinance and Disasters' - Internet and ICTs: Networks and Initiatives - Added link to 'e-ForAll Initiative' -------------------------------------------------- ABOUT GDRC MOSAIC The "GDRC Mosaic" is a monthly email newsletter that provides information bites, and summarizes programme activities of GDRC, including new items added to the website. You are welcome to forward this newsletter to friends and interested people! To subscribe: http://www.gdrc.org/about/newsletter.html To unsubscribe: unsubscribe-mosaic@gdrc.org Comments/suggestions/contributions: mosaic@gdrc.org -------------------------------------------------- CONTACT ADDRESS: Global Development Research Center 1-5-1-1013, Mori Minami Machi, Higashi Nada-ku, Kobe 658-001, Japan Tel / Fax: +(81-78) 452-8414 Email: mosaic@gdrc.org Web: http://www.gdrc.org/ -------------------------------------------------- Copyright (C) 2005-2007, GDRC. All rights reserved.