Lotto funding survey launched

2010-02-22 14:14

Cape Town - Four local organisations have launched a survey into the funding practices of the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund and the National Development Agency (NDA).

The survey - in the form of a questionnaire sent to about 3 000 civil society organisations - aims to obtain feedback on, among other things, the time it takes to receive funding from the agencies and the rejection of funding applications.

The organisations behind the survey include the South African Institute for Advancement; the Social Change Assistance Trust; the Community Development Resource Association; and the Rural Education Access Programme.

In a statement on Monday, the organisations said they aimed to reach at least 3 000 civil society organisations through various national and provincial networks.

Improving delivery

"The research team, from the Advocacy Research and Training Consultancy, is expecting feedback from at least 1 500 civil society organisations nationally."

"The research is... aimed at providing substantive information and knowledge that can be used by the National Lotteries and NDA to assist in identifying areas for improvement in its delivery.

"It is also aimed at documenting civil society's experiences with the two funding agencies so as to assist in articulating their concerns with the two funding agencies through constructive engagement," it said.

Concerns about delays in Lotto funding to non-governmental organisations and charity organisations have been widely reported in the media over the past two years.

- SAPA