Skip to content Skip to navigation

In the online world, non-profits are what they do

As we start the year of 'social aggregation and syndication' (as 2009 has already been dubbed) Web 2.0 gurus Seth Godin and Brian Solis are talking up how your ‘digital identity’ defines who you are in the online world.



Godin asserts that two major factors influence the way we perceive people through their online incarnations:



* On the web, people are judged almost entirely by their actions – usually by what they write.

* Online interactions are largely expected to be intentional. On purpose. Planned. People assume you did stuff for a reason.



I don’t doubt that both those points are true. What they make me wonder though is whether non-profit organizations and international development agencies are taking too long to see that these new accountability rules apply to them too. I am convinced they are.



If you are what you do online, then the option for organizations to just rely on the reputation their logo carries is disappearing fast. Under the new rules, only organizations that are truly impartial, transparent and that provide reliable information about their work will pass the accountability test – and that does not apply to many health- and development-focused organizations at present.



The sooner individual organizations recognize this reality, and enter the online space in a genuine and open way, the better. Quick start entry options include:



* Introduce some simple and clear organizational policies for staff at all levels participating in online discussions and social networks.

* Develop guidelines encouraging senior managers in particular to start writing their own blogs.

* Keep track of what is being said about you by setting up Google Alerts on your organization, on specific technical priorities and high-profile people in your team.

* Set up a news/RSS feed aggregator that tracks web site content from your closest partner organizations.

* Find out who in your team has a real interest in Web 2.0. Task them with updating the team on significant new trends/tools in social networking. If nobody fits the bill, ask for independent advice from outside. Now.



Some of the most important players are stalled on the start line. The political realities and bureaucratic control that are central to some international organizations – such as those of many UN agencies – are incompatible with the openness and freedom of the online world. The paralysis resulting from that oil-and-water practicality will, unfortunately, not stop them from being judged by their online actions along with everyone else.



The good news is that this may present a window of opportunity for some smaller organizations and their flexible, forward-looking leaders, who can make the health and development sector's online space their own before the sumos eventually arrive on the scene.



Tim France



(The author is the Managing Director, Inís. Website: www.inis.ie)



Add new comment

Assamese Translator

Assam Times seeks English to Assamese translators!
Join our volunteer team.
Email editor@assamtimes.org.

Random Stories

Republic Day Programme at Bokakhat

24 Jan 2010 - 2:08pm | ThaneswarHazarika
Bokakhat Sub division administration is organizing republic day celebration programme in the Bokakhat public field with day long programme which includes presentation of patriotic songs, Shahid...

Simmering protest against Nagaland

7 Mar 2015 - 8:37pm | AT News
Amid simmering tension along the Assam-Nagaland border over 20 organizations  are continuing protest the recent killing of an Assamese trader in Dimapur who was a rape accused.Protesters in...

Strike disrupts surface communication

2 Sep 2015 - 8:35am | AT News
Surface communication remains heavily disrupted in Assam along with other parts of the country following the 12 hour general strike by the trade unions on Wednesday.Called in protest against the anti...

India-Nepal Pre-World Cup match On Mar 12

4 Mar 2015 - 2:45pm | Anamika Dutta
India will play the first 2018 FIFA Pre-World Cup qualifying match against Nepal. The match will be played at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium at Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati on March 12...

Other Contents by Author

The transfer and posting of a senior police officer, attached to the anti corruption cell has raised doubts over the Sonowal government's vision of a corruption-free society. In a bid that evoked sharp reaction across the state, the government has transferred Mukul Saikia at a time when he was firmly dealing with a few sensational investigations. The senior IPS officer is known for his firmness' and submitted many fearless revelations in the past. Of, late, he was heading the investigations of the multi crore scam social welfare scam apart from the cash for job scam in the Assam Public Service Commission. But suddenly the government issued a notification on Wednesday reposting him as...
Security forces had a narrow escape when on Sunday morning when an attempt by s joint ULFA-I and NSCN-K team missed the target in Tinsukia district. The incident took place on early in the morning when security forces were moving in the area and as they reached the Jagun area rebels indiscriminately targettef them from the dense jungle who managed to flee immediately. A massive operation is underway. But nobody has been caught so far.
 After days of will-they-won’t-they, police have arrested Akhil Gogoi on Sunday in connection with the recent protest in Kaziranga. A group of policemen caught the KMSS leaders from his residence in Chandmari in Guwahati in the morning charging him with aiding and abetting the people who staged protest against the eviction drive in the world heritage site where two people were killed in police firing. Gogoi, who took the leader allegedly fled from the scene and since then policemen in Guwahati and Bokakhar have been looking for him to be arrested.
Along with the rest of the nation the 70th Independence day was  celebrated in Tangla with three days long programme schedule with gaiety and fervour by administration of Harisinga Revenue Circle and local public. On Monday in the morning at 9 am Lakyhya Jyoti Das Circle Officer, Khoirabari Revenue Circle hoisted the tri-colour at Tangla HS field.Delivering his speech Das said," Along with the development and progress peace and fraternity is needed for which the co-operation of people is necessary. He further said that "Youths of the nation should join hands in Nation building. He also spoke on the urgent need of mitigating the Man-elephant conflict in Udalguri district, need for...
The shoot out in Karbi Anglong district seems to have mired in controversy as the authority has called it an incident of accidental firing where a policeman was killed. Official sources in Guwahati denied any militant attack on the Rongbongway police station where policeman Ratul Gogoi died in the wee hours. Earlier, it was believed to be a rebel attack in the run up to the Independence Day
In yet another landmark development in the Manipur’s poll political landscape, Irom Sharmila on Tuesday announced to end her fast to fight the upcoming assembly polls. Talking to reporters at the Imphal Court premises, she said that she is waiting for August 9 to break her 15 year long fast. She observed that during her 15 year long she got no response from the people in power and that there is hardly any hope a positive response in near future. She said that she has no option but to politically fight the draconian Act that empowers the armed forces to unleash reign of terror on the common people. The decision is bound to have a huge impact on the state’s political scenario in the north...
An health awareness programme was held at the conference hall of Tangla College on Wednesday. The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Prasen Daimari Principal Tangla College. It was presided over by outgoing vice principal B.M Singh. Convenor IQAC Anima Bhuyan Baruah spoke on the purpose of the programme. Dr. Hara Kanta Das Retd. District Joint  Director Department of health,Government of Assam was present in the programme as resource person. NRHM District Committee Mobiliser  Mousumi Kalita was also present in the programme. The programme was organized by Health care cell, IQAC Tangla College in collaboration with Health department govt. of Assam.
BTC Chief Hagrama Mohilary,who is also president of Bodoland Peoples Front(BPF) party files a defamation case against Abdur Rahim Khan,MLA of All India Democratic Front(AIUDF) of  No.43 Barpeta constituency of Assam  today at Chief Judicial Magistrate Court,Kokrajhar demanding strong punishment to Khan. Mohilary demanding strong punishment to Khan,MLA from AIUDF party files defamation with CJM court in Kokrajhar district of Assam,which was case registered with court 142/2016,under/section(u/s) 499/500/501/502 of the India Penal code(IPC),1860. Khan had commented defamtory words on Mohilary on February 1 last terming that Mohilary belonged to terrorist of blood,killer, BPF is...
The Theme Song of the 12th South Asian Games, 2016 was launched amid thunderous applause of thousands of people and volunteers, gathered for the Run for North East and the Torch Relay in Guwahati this morning. The theme song is one of Late Dr Bhupen Hazarika’s immortal creations ‘Ei Prithibi Ek Krirangon’.  Launching the theme song, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports (I/C) Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Bhupenda’s vision and universal appeal of humanity and brotherhood would keep inspiring us and the whole world.” He further added that the Theme song perfectly expresses the vision of the Games, that is, peace, progress and prosperity.  Minister of Transport, Excise,...
BTC deputy chief Kampa Borgoyary inaugurated the delegate session of the 19th annual convention of the Journalists' Union of Assam (JUA), which has got underway with two-day programme scheduled here at Basic Training Centre in Kokrajhar today.   Borgoyary, in his speech urged the journalist fraternity to be dedicated and devotion to the building of national integrity highlighting human resource as well social upliftment in the country. He said that BTC administration was working for all round development  since it's created under Sixth scheduled of Indian constituency through which region got ray of development and spirits of the social integrity. The convention has witness...