Introduction - UNDP The Gambia

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4
Capacity Building Challenges and Opportunities
in NGOs/CBOs for the Achievement of the MDGs
CHAPTER PREVIEW
Non-Governmental Organisations
Community Based Organisations
National Development Policy Goals and Objectives that NGOs/CBOS Must Address
♦ NGOs and CBOs in an African Context
♦ NGOs Activities in The Gambia
♦ CBOs in The Gambia
Capacity Building Role of TANGO and Donors
♦ TANGO’s Training on Strategy Formulation and Planning
♦ TANGO and FASE Joint Training
To put the issues and challenges in
proper perspective, it is important to
be explicit about the meaning and role
of non-governmental organisations and
community-based organisations.
4.1 Non-Governmental
Organisations
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is a
non-state actor involved in development
work. In a developing country where a
significant proportion of the population lacks
basic social services and where disparities are
large, an NGO can play a significant role in
the socio-economic development
process. NGOs working in partnership with
Government can help alleviate poverty,
reduce disparities, create opportunities and
protect human rights.
There is much controversy surrounding the
definition of an NGO, often resulting in
confusion and misunderstanding. Looking at
the “extremes” of the debate here, there are
both broad and narrow definitions. The broad
definition suggests that every organisation
outside the parameters of Government
operating in civil society is a nongovernmental
organisation. Under this
definition trades unions, political groups,
sports clubs and a multitude of other
organisations and associations could all be
termed non-governmental.
The problem with this approach is that it
encompasses an enormous diversity of
organisations and because of this it tells us
little about their common features. A narrow
definition however suggests a specific type of
organisation that concentrates on
development work, which assists people to
improve their social and economic prospects.
The definition used for the purpose of this
study is that outlined in the Commonwealth
Foundation document, Non-Governmental
Organisations Guidelines for Good Policy
and Practice, 1995. Briefly, this specifies
NGOs as having four defining characteristics
that set them apart from other organisations in
the civil service. They are voluntary,
independent, not for profit, and not selfservice.
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Building Capacity for the Attainment of the Millennium Development Goals in The Gambia National Human Development Report 2005
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