social entrepreneurship

The One Thing All Successful NGOs Have in Common: A Robust Financial Framework

“The ‘financial framework’ is the term for the policies, procedures, regulations and standing orders we use to make sure we’re taking proper care of public money.” – Powys County Council

Similar to a business, it is imperative to establish a robust financial framework for an NGO. A financial framework provides an organised system that guides and supports the financial operations and structure of the organisation. It includes internal financial control mechanisms to prevent financial mismanagement such as misuse or theft of funds and assets, non-compliance of an organisation or government policies and regulations, and inaccurate financial reporting. NGOs also face several problems, including inadequate resources, lack of capacity building, lack of performance measurement instruments, and inefficient management. Setting up a proper financial framework will help resolve some, if not all, of them.

Tricks on How NGOs Can Survive Without Funding

Anne Frank once wrote, “No one has ever become poor by giving”. But to give, you need to have. Every organisation needs funding to operate. Like any organisation, NGOs need money to cover their costs- capital costs, operation costs, overhead costs, staff costs, etc. NGOs, in particular, depend primarily on grants and donations for survival.

What happens when the organisation runs out of money? Donations are made at random, and grants are often subjected to conditions. With a limited budget and uncertain cash inflow, NGOs often have to curtail their spending at the cost of quantity and quality of their work. Under these circumstances, NGOs find it difficult to plan for the long term and ensure the longevity of their humanitarian programmes. Preemptively, NGOs should develop a stable funding source and steadily achieve autonomy from donor funds and grants.

Social Entrepreneurship: A Catalyst for Economic Development

In this highly materialistic and turbulent world, it is no surprise that most countries are chasing economic development as a potential panacea for our social ills.

Trade wars have erupted, global resources exploited, inequality flourished, but if there is anything that has been consistently keeping up with the caprices of capitalism while fostering wellbeing, it is social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurs act as a major engine in the economic machine through their business activities and fuel development by raising the quality of life of the population.

6 Reasons Why Mauritian NGOs Should Convert to Social Enterprises

It is 2021, 76 years since the term NGO became popular with the founding of the United Nations in 1945. Organisations that strive for the betterment of humanity have existed since the dawn of time, though the shape they take has constantly been evolving.

In the late 1970s in the UK, social entrepreneurship emerged as an alternative business model with the traditional profit motive and a social, environmental and governance focus. Our tiny nation is blessed with more than 300 active NGOs, yet not many social enterprises. Whether out of ignorance, lack of skills, complexity or sheer refusal to mix business with the social world, many NGOs do not alter their models, even though social enterprises tend to be more scalable and sustainable.

YUVA and Smile Foundation explore collaboration on Setting-up of Social Entreprises

In an effort to connect and work with organisations operating in similar sectors, YUVA representatives met Mr Rajeev Sharma, the General Manager, Mr Mishra, the Co-Founder and Mr Dham, the Chief Operating Officer of Smile Foundation on Monday, 6 May 2019.

Smile Foundation is an NGO in India directly benefitting over 750,000 children and their families every year, through more than 350 live welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood and women empowerment, in over 1000 remote villages and slums across 25 states of India.

YUVA and IIT Delhi begin dialogue to explore potential areas of collaboration

In the afternoon of Monday, 6 May 2019, YUVA representatives were invited to meet Professor Sanjeev Sanghi, the Dean of Alumni Affairs and International programmes at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi to explore different grounds for collaboration.

YUVA gave an overview of its initiatives in Mauritius and Africa, which was followed by a brief presentation from Dr Sanghi on IIT Delhi.

YUVA Academy’s Leadership for Social Change Programme: April 2019 Cohort

The third cohort of the Leadership for Social Change (LSC) programme started on 7 April 2019. It is a four-session training conducted over a period of one month and trainers of the YUVA Academy deliver the programme. The purpose of the LSC programme is to inspire young leaders to develop their own understandings of what constitutes good leadership and how to apply this knowledge in real life situations.

YUVA wins the ‘NGO Leadership & Excellence Award 2019’ at the World CSR Congress

Last night, the World CSR Congress held its award-giving ceremony at the Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai. And YUVA has bagged the NGO Leadership & Excellence Award 2019 at the ceremony.

YUVA has been doing very well as a non-governmental organisation in Mauritius. Click here to visit YUVA’s Projects Update 2017/2018 here.

YUVA Academy: Cohort 1 (2019) of Certificate in Leadership for Social Change

This year’s leadership program, delivered by the YUVA Academy, has started this month.

Using interactive activities including reflexive journals, aspiring young leaders develop their own understandings of what constitutes good leadership and how to apply this knowledge in real life situations.

YUVA Academy, Greenwich University Pakistan Mauritius Branch Campus sign MoU to promote academic and cultural exchanges

YUVA Academy and Greenwich University Pakistan Mauritius Branch Campus have signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday, 23 November 2018, which aims at establishing and developing a close partnership to promote academic and cultural exchanges between the two institutions through mutual assistance in areas of students and faculty exchange, teaching, research, joint academic programs, and other fields of common interest. Continue reading “YUVA Academy, Greenwich University Pakistan Mauritius Branch Campus sign MoU to promote academic and cultural exchanges”

Why We Are Converting YLA Into a Social Enterprise

As austerity measures deepen, are big businesses unwittingly contributing to social injustice? If so, who will fill the gap they are leaving?

Recent political and financial events have seen businesses retrench, dig in and attempt to ride out the storm. To many, this suggests that the corporate world is being indifferent to its social responsibility. Community projects are being curtailed and cash donations to charities drying up. The impact can only be detrimental. Continue reading “Why We Are Converting YLA Into a Social Enterprise”