Relevance to South Africa:

• Supports the NLC's vision of a modern, ethical, and transparent lottery sector
• Provides global insights into strengthening compliance and enforcement capacity
• Enhances national efforts to curb illegal gaming and protect vulnerable consumers
• Informs policy development toward future-fit responsible gaming regulation
• Reinforces South Africa's alignment with international best practice and governance standards

Day 2 (Conference Day - Plenary Session) of the NLC National Indaba focused on advancing digital transformation, strengthening governance, and addressing South Africa's socio-economic realities. The NLC outlined its modernisation agenda, showcasing progress in transparency, efficiency, and fraud prevention, while government partners from SARS and Social Development highlighted the urgent need for ethical leadership and stronger compliance within the nonprofit sector. Data from the Statistician General underscored challenges such as youth unemployment, poverty, and slow economic growth, prompting calls for innovation and collaboration. The day closed with a strong message from the Minister of Social Development, urging civil society and government to work together to build a more accountable, tech-enabled, and community-centred funding ecosystem.

Commission 1: Supporting Compliance for NPOs/NPCs

This commission will focus on helping organizations become compliant with DSD, CIPC, and SARS requirements. The session will also look at how best can organisations be supported for own sustainability.

Commission 2: Bridging the Digital Divide / Digital Transformation in Grant Funding

The commission will explore strategies to overcome technological challenges faced by NPOs and NPCs. Topics will include:

• Enhancing digital literacy and tech adoption
• Addressing bandwidth and connectivity issues across provinces
• Leveraging existing solutions, such as NLC's zero-rated access to its platform
• Grant online management system challenges/enhancement

Commission 3: Discussion on Sustainability Model aimed at revitalizing the Civil society organizations sector in South Africa

This commission will explore a pathway to a model that can serve as a strategic initiative to address the long-standing challenges faced by Civil Society organizations across the country.

Topics will include:

• Revisiting the strategic value of civil society organizations towards a participatory democracy
• Are grant funding models intentional enough about distinguishing between the need to nurture emerging civil society organisations (acknowledge the voice of the youth and grassroots movements) and sustaining established civil society structures (acknowledging the strategic contribution of research and credible information to inform policy and law making)
• Diversified and Sustainable funding (that supports all categories of civil society as outlined above)
• Strengthened Operational Capacity
• Enhanced governance and accountability
• Strategic Collaboration
• Social Entrepreneurship
• Diversified and Sustainable Funding

Commission 4: Funding Focus Areas

The commission to focus on innovative and responsive funding priorities to meet emerging sector needs.

This session aims to:

• Unpack the "suitcase descriptions" of funding focus areas
• Discuss how our understanding and definition relates to current contextual challenges and responses at grassroots and national levels
• Explore the need and room to be nuanced in our definitions and response to related social challenges

Funding focus areas to be included are:

• Climate change and environmental initiatives
• Technology-driven projects
• Gender-Based Violence
• Substance abuse
• Other evolving community challenges

Commission 1: Supporting Compliance for NPOs & NPCs

Commission 2: Bridging the Digital Divide

Commission 3: Sustainability Models for Civil Society

Commission 4: Funding Focus Areas

🍽️ Lunch Venues