This report sets out a plan to help the City of Cape Town attract financing to support the development of its information society. It summarizes the range of funders and funding opportunities that are available for Cape Town to pursue. It includes case studies on fundraising and awareness-raising activities for ICT initiatives by cities around the world that other city governments can learn from. The report is available from the City of Cape Town, IT Directorate, with permission.

Summary | Table of contents | Acknowledgements

Summary

Bridges.org helped the City Council of Cape Town think through its finance strategy to support plans to develop the local information society. Our report includes case studies on fundraising and awareness-raising activities by other cities that Cape Town could learn from. It summarizes the range of funders and funding opportunities that are available for Cape Town to pursue. It provides the City’s decision-makers with targeted recommendations that fit Cape Town’s unique needs and circumstances. It suggests ways the local government could adjust its policies and use its resources more effectively. The recommendations include a suggested action plan for government interventions and actions, with a focus on attracting overseas funding and social venture capital. The report introduces concepts around social return on investment.

Table of contents

1.1 The City of Cape Town strategy
1.2 Investigation of options for financing Cape Town's information society
1.3 What is the "information society"?

2.1 Case study: Hyderabad, India
2.2 Case study: Seattle, Washington, USA
2.3 Case study: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2.4 Other cities worth looking at

3.1 International institutional funders and donors
3.2 Bilateral development aid donor organisations
3.3 Foundations
3.4 National and Provincial Government funds and funding agencies
3.5 Private sector
3.6 Social venture capital funds and investments
3.7 Funding via collaboration with universities
3.8 Funding via collaboration with NGOs/CSOs and "social capital"
3.9 Funding via collaboration with other cities
3.10 Tapping residents, expatriates and tourists, and the Cape Town Diaspora

4 Discussion and analysis

5 Recommendation: Three-part plan to finance the information society

5.1 The Big Grant
5.2 The Socio-Economic Development Umbrella
5.3 The Centre of Innovation

6.1 Kick-starting the process
6.2 Being effective: best practice Habits for making the strategy fundable

Annex 1. More information on specific organisations
Annex 2. Contact information
Annex 3. Noteworthy reference materials
Annex 4. Further information on professional fundraisers
Annex 5. About the authors -- project team expertise and track record
Annex 6. Methodology -- more on how we conducted this investigation
Annex 7. Example: Call for proposals from USAID
Annex 8. Example: M&G announcements about relevant initiatives
Annex 9. Sample funding proposal -- Umanyano Programme
Annex 10. Sample funding proposal -- City of Johannesburg
Annex 11. List of potential partner organizations 

Acknowledgements

This report was prepared for and funded by a grant from the City of Cape Town. Like all of our work, this report was a collaborative effort that drew on many members of the bridges.org team in various roles. We would especially like to recognise the contribution of Jennifer Huesler.