South African New Economics Network (SANE)

Funding Proposal

Projects 2004 – 2006

SANE – advocating an equitable and locally appropriate economic system to eradicate poverty and promote sustainable development in South Africa

Contacts Charmaine Treherne – SANE Co-ordinator

Margaret Legum – SANE Chairperson, Economist and Journalist

John Roux – SANE Treasurer, Development Consultant and Evaluator

Patrons Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, James Robertson,

Gordon Oliver, Sheena Duncan

Tel/Fax: + 27 21 689 6892

email: sane@iafrica.com

website: www.sane.org.za

postal address: Box 44928 Claremont 7735, South Africa

Bank Account:

Standard Bank, Claremont Branch No 025109

Account: 27 532 7604 (Type: Marketlink)

Name: S.A.N.E. Network

Swift Code: SBZAZAJJ

Contents

Executive Summary

Proposal

1. SANE Structure, Mission and Vision

2. SANE’s Goals and Strategy

3. SANE’s Achievements and Ongoing Services

4. Problem Statement

5. Proposal

6. Timeframe

7. New Economics Solutions

8. Projects

· Project 1: New Economics Training and Capacity Building

· Project 2: Innovative LED Project - Implementing a Local Trading System

· Project 3.1: Media and Public Communication
Project 3.2: Partnership and Coalition Building

· Project 4: Policy Research and Advocacy

9. Reporting and Evaluation

10. Budget

Appendices

I Organisational Information

II North-South Partner - The New Economics Foundation, UK

III Timelines for Projects (Diagrams 1 to 6)

IV Financial Statements/Auditors Reports

Letters of Endorsement

· Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane

· New Economics Foundation, UK

Executive Summary

The South African New Economics Network (SANE) advocates a range of economic policies and practices in South Africa to alleviate and eradicate the current crisis of increasing poverty, social break down and environmental damage, caused by the prevailing economic system. SANE is uniquely placed to act as a catalyst for such change, due to its strong ties with the growing international new economics movement, spearheaded by it’s Northern partner, New Economics Foundation (NEF), in the UK.

Over a period of three years SANE will implement and research a series of projects involving ‘New Economics’[1] alternatives, suited to our South African situation.

The projects will:

· Inform and educate leaders in Civil Society and government on New Economics solutions

· Encourage, mobilise and empower the general public to promote New Economics solutions to government

· Test at least one New Economics solution – a community currency – in a marginalised poor urban community

· Research the likely impact of New Economics solutions locally and globally

SANE requires R1 798 900 over the next 3 years to implement these projects.

We are seeking donor partners willing to assist with innovative approaches to addressing the root causes of poverty, as an essential strategy for its eradication over time.

1. SANE Structure, Mission and Vision

Structure

SANE is registered as a Trust and as a Non-Profit Organisation. Governance is by a Board of Trustees. Work is undertaken by the trustees, by volunteers and by one full-time staff member.(Please see Appendix I for information on the structure and history of SANE.)

Vision

Our vision is of an equitable society in which the human and socio-economic rights enshrined in our constitution are realised for everyone, poverty has been eradicated through appropriate and sustainable development, and society and the natural environment are protected.

Mission

SANE’s mission is to contribute to a more humane, just, sustainable and locally appropriate economic system, to alleviate poverty in South Africa, by addressing its systemic and root causes. This involves challenging current neo-liberal macro economic policies and proposing innovative alternatives developed by global New Economics. SANE, as part of an emerging New Economics movement, is uniquely placed to act as a resource and catalyst in this regard, with it’s North-South partnership with the New Economics Foundation (NEF), in the UK.

2. SANE Goals and Strategy

Goals

SANE aims to influence leaders in all sectors, but particularly in Civil Society and government, in order to change current economic policies. It advocates alternative, New Economics policies that promote social and economic equity and justice, local economic development, and economic and ecological sustainability. Our primary goals are:

· A critical mass of civil society leaders, organisations and coalitions supports and advocates New Economics solutions, and develops the capacity to influence government economic policies in South and Southern Africa

· An effective coalition of progressive economics sector NGOs advocating New Economics policies and solutions

· The SA government progressively adopts New Economics policies, resulting in appropriate and sustainable economic development and poverty eradication

Strategy

SANE’s strategy is to:

· Draw on International New Economics resources, and bring leading New Economists to SA

· Undertake, promote and support local New Economics research

· Communicate and build New Economics understanding and awareness using the media

· Undertake New Economics capacity building among leadership in key target groups

· Undertake, support and research local projects demonstrating New Economics solutions

· Undertake focused advocacy of specific New Economics policy proposals at national, provincial and local government levels

· Build a network and coalition of organizations and influential individuals that support New Economics

3. SANE’s Achievements and Ongoing Services

Media

· Regular inputs to radio phone in programmes

· Radio interviews with visiting New Economists

· A regular article entitled Economics for Humans appeared fortnightly in a weekly newspaper during 2002. It was stopped with a change of ownership; but the articles continue to be circulated to an email list of over 1000 people. A new regular public medium is being sought

Publications

· A book on New Economics in the SA context ‘It doesn’t have to be Like This: a new Economy for South Africa and the World’ by Margaret Legum was published in November 2002

· A series of position papers and articles on New Economics has been published and widely distributed at SANE Forums and meetings of allied organisations; they include papers on Globalisation, Monetary Reform, Complementary Currencies, Alternative Forms of Taxation.

· A book on New Economics by various SA contributors is in draft

· Evidence was given to the government’s Taylor Committee on a Comprehensive Social Security System; and another in response to the Western Cape Provincial Council’s Strategy for Economic Development in the Province.

International Input and partnerships

· Working visits by international New Economics experts have been hosted by SANE, which arranged radio interviews, lectures, workshops and presentations to MPs. They are:

· James Robertson of NEF

· Michael Rowbotham – author of ‘The Grip of Death’ and ‘Goodbye America’

· Richard Douthwaite of the Irish new economy movement FIESTA, and expert on sustainable local economics

· Partnership with New Economics Foundation in the UK

Electronic communication

· SANE Views – a regular weekly email bulletin to upward of 1000 subscribers

· SANE News List– information about monthly New Economics theme-based meetings for members and public ; and about the meetings of allied organisations.

· SANE email discussion forum

· Web site – www.sane.org.za

Local projects

· Two start up local trading system projects in Cape Town. One of these is managed through interaction of its members with a purpose designed website. It was started with the participation of about a dozen SANE members. It has grown to a membership of about sixty. The other system was started with SANE assistance by the members of a Community Based Organisation in the ‘township’ of Gugulethu in Cape Town. It uses a printed currency.

· The office hosts a respectable New Economics Resource Centre, which needs developing and indexing

Research

· Support to a student preparing an Honours level (post graduate) dissertation on Monetary Reform in SA.

· American student volunteers compiled research on complementary currencies, which is available through SANE.

Networking

· Participating in the meetings and other activities of organisations such as New Economics Foundation UK (NEF), Alternative Information Development Centre (AIDC), Environmental Justice Networking Forum (EJNF), the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG), Agenda 21 Local Development Forum, NEDLAC, Black Sash, NADEL (Lawyers for Human Rights), Fair Share, Novalis-Ubuntu Centre for Continuing Education, Permacore, Goedgedacht Forum, Sustainability Institute, Price Waterhouse Coopers, and others.

· Participation in organising the Jubilee 2000 Campaign in Cape Town

·     &