Innovating for sustainability - 'Africans investing in Africa'

Participants will discover the relationships between social investment, good corporate governance and visionary leadership.

Delegates

Who should attend?

* Business, government and social sector executives who are concerned about governance and leadership, sustainable investment, and positive social change
* Corporate affairs, human resources and corporate social
investment managers and staff
* Asset managers, trustees and staff of private foundations and trusts
* Individual philanthropists and social investors
* Management and staff of non-profit organisations
* Social Entrepreneurs.

Why this theme now?

Civil society's current dependence on international funding is not sustainable. Both public and private foreign assistance ebb and flow with the changing priorities of external donors.

As international assistance inevitably declines, NGOs become increasingly reliant on three other primary sources of funding: philanthropic contributions from local corporations, foundations and individuals; earned income, and government contracts and tax privileges.

Fortunately, other innovative and more sustainable models are emerging. The emphasis on empowerment and self-reliance enshrined in transformation initiatives such as industry charters and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) have created an environment ripe for financial innovation and new social enterprise relationships.

Globally, private capital and experience are being powerfully harnessed for social change. Traditional forms of charity and philanthropy are now often complemented by 'social investing', with increased accountability for results.

Significant financial investments by government and private grant-making institutions in civil society organisations are increasingly being used to leverage other corporate and private resources.

New thinking around the notion of 'blended value' investing is enabling traditional financial capital to be deployed for social and financial returns, in sectors ranging from micro-finance and agriculture to information and environmental technologies.

In addition, there is now the possibility for new answers to the familiar question: 'How do I know my social investments make a difference?'

CAF's September conference will discuss and demonstrate innovative social enterprise models that involve people-centred development projects; social investment that taps into and leverages local resources; and new thinking which blends the potential of private capital and business knowledge, with the entrepreneurial actions of poor communities.

Speakers and their topics

Corporate Governance and Sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility
Professor Mervyn King, Director: Global Reporting Initiative, Amsterdam;
Director: Association of Business Administrators of SA; Chairman, King Committee on Corporate Governance.

The Need for Visionary Leadership on the Path towards Sustainability
Michael Spicer, CEO, Business Leadership South Africa

A Media Perspective on Social Justice and Sustainability issues - How can Corporates Engage?
Ferial Haffajee, Editor-in-Chief, Mail and Guardian

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and Corporate Social Investment
Vuyo Jack, CEO, Empowerdex

Africans Investing in Africa - the Local Sustainability Imperative
Sipho Mseleku, CEO, Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry

Mobilising Capital for Transformative Social Impact - Social Private Equity South Africa (SPESA)
Kojo Parris - CEO, SPESA; and Head, Colloquium for Social Entrepreneurs, GIBS

Can corporates support the sustainability of community development organisations?
Dr Marcos Kisil, CEO, Institute for the Development of Social Investment, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Non-Profit Asset Building and Investment for Sustainability - the Ditikeni Model
Dasi Moodley, Ditikeni board member

CSI Goes the Empowerment Partnership Route - Itec Holdings and Ikamva Labantu
Sipho Puwani, MD, Ikamva Labantu Empowerment Trust

Informed Social Investing for Sustainable Impact - the Potential of a Rating System for Civil Society Organisations
Chia-Chao Wu, Managing Director, Empowerdex

The inspiring investment journey of Kagiso Trust
Kgotso Schoeman, CEO, Kagiso

Venture Philanthropy and Investment
The potential for alternative financing of civil society organisations will be presented by Russell Prior from Venturesome, CAF UK's innovative and highly successful social finance venture.

The Power of Economic Self-Reliance - Learning from the Indian experience of 'Swadeshi'
Ingrid Srinath, Civicus General Secretary

Bottom Line or Bleeding Heart: Giving in the Small and Medium Business Enterprise Sector in South Africa
Susan Wilkinson-Maposa, Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town

Panel and workshop sessions
CAF Southern Africa's clients and other delegates will participate in workshops on the following specific areas:

* Thinking beyond CSI - Evolving Ideas and Alliances - Dr Nomsa Masuku, Standard Bank, Andile Ncontsa, Old Mutual, and Onkgopotse JJ Tabane, Altron

* Employee Volunteering - CAF UK volunteering expert Victoria Anderson has been sponsored by FirstRand to run this afternoon session

* What can be achieved through individual investment? The experience of the Southern African Trust - Neville Gabriel, CEO, SAT

Book early to avoid disappointment.

Contact Mokgaetse Thoka at mokgaetse@cafsouthernafrica.org, or Mihloti Mgimeti at mmgimeti@cafsouthernafrica.org.

Venue

Date: 17 September 2008 to 18 September 2008
Location: The Wanderers' Club, Illovo, Johannesburg

Contact: Mokgaetse Thoka
Company name: CAF Southern Africa 2008
Email address mokgaetse@cafsouthernafrica.org