About SANGOTeCH

The SANGOTeCH online technology donation and discount portal is a partnership between SANGONeT and TechSoup, the San Francisco-based nonprofit technology capacity building organisation, that links technology donations and the South African NGO sector.

The SANGOTeCH programme will assist NGOs in two key ways: by providing software for a very low fee and also by assisting NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure.

Significantly discounted software purchases frees up stretched NGO budgets for both technology priorities and other programme areas. Software and other technology products can be more than just obligatory purchases; the SANGOTeCH portal also assist NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure by providing resources and advice around technology planning, ICT tips & tricks and other technology assistance required by NGOs. SANGOTeCH incorporates many of the facilities previously offered by SANGONeT’s NGO.ZA service.

The TechSoup programme has been running for four years in the United States, and has distributed over $250 million worth of software to nearly 50 000 nonprofit organisations. TechSoup expanded to Canada in 2004, and the United Kingdom, Belgium and Poland earlier this year. In the two months since going live in theses three countries, the programme has already reached the $1 million mark in software donations.

SANGOTeCH is the next country programme to be implemented - and the first in a developing country.

SANGOTeCH and TechSoup are also working on expanding the programme to include donations from other leading corporate technology donors. SANGONeT is also in discussions with local ICT service providers to include key offerings such as web hosting and connectivity, IT training and hardware discounts and donations. The provision of open source solutions as well as discounted services and support will also become part of the SANGOTeCH offering.