The ECNGOC Programmes Manager, Duduzile Radebe was supported by the NZAid SAFE fund to visit New Zealand in December 2010, to facilitate a workshop on Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and meet several other organisations to reflect on community development approaches.  The trip was also very instrumental in collecting information and experiences relating to philanthropy and how organisations in New Zealand are implementing ideas on philanthropy to sustain development activities.

• Lessons Learnt include:

The Asset Based Community Development Approach is increasingly impacting various parts of the world, used to deepen the footprints of development through putting development back in the hands of communities and individuals 

• There is added value when Government takes on the responsibility of implementing an asset based methodology when delivering services to communities
• Whilst philanthropy is an ideal approach to take up in addressing the funding challenges facing the sector, it requires careful thought when deciding to implement it as it has a potential to derail the objectives of any organisation
• International NGOs face funding challenges just as national organisations feel the strain of the global recession and withdrawal of funding support from “traditional” funders.