Sponsorship in tough times![](https://biz-file.com/b/0907/29515.jpg?1) Finding a sponsor for any event during the economic downturn has now become a tricky activity. Large to medium businesses are handling their finances prudently in order to keep themselves economically stable in these uncertain times. When big companies that have been in their respective industries for years start crumbling, it becomes difficult to part with hard-earned cash to invest in any good cause. Even long-running events, such as the Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, which has been held now for 11 years and has been a success on all accounts, landed in dire straits when the SABC withdrew its financial support leaving the organisers with just a week to find funding. It is now time to explore other avenues of sponsorship from other companies that may not feel the effects of the economic downturn in the long run. Crisis or no crisis, the mobile industry is thriving in Africa. Vodacom continues this year to sponsor the Vodacom Funny Festival in Cape Town, South Africa while Zain plans on sponsoring the first ‘Mandela Day' concert to be held at New York's Radio City Music Hall in celebration of Mandela's birthday and MTN is one of the sponsors of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It is clear that this industry has resources to spare. In East Africa, East African Breweries has renewed its sponsorship on the Project Fame reality show for the third season running through its brand, Tusker, demonstrating that not all sectors are being negatively affected during the recession. Events organisers seeking sponsorship need to draw up a list of companies that are, more likely than not, struggling during the economic downturn and avoid these resources until there is some light at the end of the tunnel and look to those that have the cash and support to throw around. Cheers! Sindy Peters, Content manager Send all your Africa marketing news to africanews@bizcommunity.com. Today's top stories
Digital
Rapid penetration of cellular phones into South Africa and the rest of the Africa will set the stage for mass adoption of the internet across the country and continent. That's according to Deon Liebenberg, regional director for sub-Sahara Africa at Research In Motion (RIM), the company behind the BlackBerry solution. Read more >>[Lesley Stones] The surprise resignation of the local manager of technology developer HP has been explained, with his reappearance as the new general manager of IBM sub-Saharan Africa. Read more >> Education and Training
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0907/32892.jpg) The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) is offering a new peer mentoring service for African journalists. The service aims to directly connect journalists to FAIR peer mentor, Charles Rukuni. Read more >>Eventing
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0907/32948.jpg) BAHRAIN: Zain has announced that it plans to sponsor the first ‘Mandela Day' concert to be held at New York's Radio City Music Hall on 18 July, 2009, Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday to raise funds for his foundations. The concert is being staged by 46664, a campaign the foundation named after Mandela's Robben Island prison number, with the support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Read more >>Mobile
Increased access to the internet via mobile phones has increased the risk of being targeted by the viruses and hackers that prowl the internet. Read more >>The South African cellular market reached a milestone of 50-million connections at the end of 2008 - but only 68% of these represented individual users. This is according to World Wide Worx 2009 annual Mobility study, released yesterday 2 July 2009. Read more >>Retail
Though the global financial crisis is yielding disastrous results for sub-Saharan African Least Developed Countries (LDCs), some say the slowdown could allow nations to unite and consider innovative approaches for prolonged economic and social development. Read more >>Africa's Big Seven (AB7) exhibition, showcasing the food and beverage industry, will take place from 19 - 21 July 2009 at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa. The event plans to host over 300 exhibitors from 35 countries offering trade opportunities to attendees. Read more >>DAKAR: As an African Union summit on agricultural investments opens in Libya, donors and non-profits are calling participants' attention to the role smallholder farmers - mostly women - can have in feeding their communities. Read more >>TV
![](https://biz-file.com/c/0907/32946.jpg) CNBC Africa's presenter/producer Sue Beukes, cameraman Thabo Mathebula and editor Amanda Diergaardt walked away with the Best Television Feature 2009 award for the programme ‘Doing Business in Africa' at the Africa Business Reporting Awards held on 2 July 2009 in London. Read more >>![](https://biz-file.com/c/0907/32888.jpg) NAIROBI: East African Breweries (EAB), through its flagship brand Tusker Lager, is continuing its sponsorship of the Tusker Project Fame reality show that's now in its third year running with an investment of approximately Kshs200 million. Auditions for the musical talent reality show launched concurrently this past weekend in Kenya Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Read more >> "Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson
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