Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs)

Background
Background
• NGOs have become major players in the
field of international development. From
1970 to 1985 total development aid
disbursed by international NGOs increased
ten-fold.
• It is now estimated that over 15 percent of
total total overseas overseas development development aid aid is
channeled through NGOs.

Definition
Definition
• The World Bank defines NGOs NGOs NGOs NGOs as "private private
organizations organizations that that pursue pursue pursue activities activities
activities
– to relieve suffering
– promote the interests of of the poor
– protect protect the environment
– provide basic social services
– undertake undertake community development

• NGOs are typically value-based organizations
that depend, in whole or in part, on charitable
donations and voluntary service.
• Although the NGO sector has become
increasingly professionalized over the last two
decades, principles of altruism altruism altruism altruism (the the practice practice of
of
placing placing placing others others before before one one’s one s self self) self
and voluntarism
still play a key role in the organizations.

NGO NGO Types Types
Types
• classified according to whether they are:
– more relief or development-oriented
– whether they are religious or secular
– whether they stress service delivery or
participation
– whether they are more public or privateoriented.

NGO NGO Strengths Strengths Strengths and and and Weaknesses
Weaknesses
• Some specific strengths generally
associated with the NGO sector include
the following:

• strong grassroots links
• field-based development expertise
• the ability to innovate and adapt
• process-oriented approach
• Helping through doing
• long-term commitment and emphasis on
sustainability
• cost-effectiveness

The most commonly identified weaknesses of the
sector include:
• limited financial and management expertise
• low levels of self-sustainability
• isolation/lack of inter-organizational
communication and/or coordination
• small scale interventions
• lack of understanding of the broader social or
economic context

Case Case Study Study
Study
World World Accord
Accord
Waterloo, Waterloo, ON
ON

Goals
Goals
• Focus on development
development development
development – helping people build
up their capacity to improve their own lives over
the long term
• Work through partners and grassroots
community groups to create education, training
and self-help programs for the poor
• Placing decision making and implementation
responsibility in local hands helps to ensure
programs become self-sustaining

Stoves like this
Lorena stove are
much better in
homes than
traditional open pit
fires. They use 40%
less wood and are
much healthier
because they vent
soot and smoke to
the outside.

World Accord Projects
• Central America – El Salvador, Honduras, Honduras Honduras Honduras
Guatemala
• Asia Asia – India, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka,
Pakistan
• Africa Africa Africa - Malawi

Case Case Study
Study
Programma Programma de Reconstrucci
Reconstrucción Reconstrucci
Rural
(The Rural Reonstruction Progarm)
Honduras, CA

PRR PRR’s PRR Goal Goal
• "To promote integrated participatory
development with the people in the rural
Honduran communities where Programa
de Reconstrucción Rural works.
• To achieve a higher standard of living with
human dignity, while conserving the
natural environment for future
generations."

PRR PRR
PRR
• PRR doesn’t march into a community and
tell them what they need. They will only
assist if they are approached by the
community.
• If a community agrees, they must strive to
develop their community in the following
ways:

1. Increase organization within the
community
2. Increase health
3. Improve the economy
4. Improve education

Pig Project – 1 boar, 6 sows; 6 months till piglets are full
grown (micro-credit loans)

Grain silos help prevent rats and mice from destroying 50% of
families’ crops.