Section Days abstract book 2010.indd - RUB Research School ...

HSS_08
THE ROLE OF NGOS IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT:
THE CASE OF THE HEALTH AND HIV/AIDS SECTOR
IN MALAWI
Martina Lembani
Institute of Development Research and Development Policy; Ruhr-Universität Bochum,
44780 Bochum, Germany
e-mail: martina_lembani@yahoo.co.uk
The number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) operating in various fields of
development world wide has been increasing since the past three decades. However their role
is still under debate. This research analyses the extent to which NGOs contribute to socio
economic development through social service delivery, with a specific focus on the health and
HIV/AIDS sector in Malawi. This is achieved by using a theoretical model that analyses the
market structure, market behaviour and market results that are observed due to interaction
between and among donors, NGOs, government and for-profits. This involves understanding
the relationships that exist between and among donors as resource providers and NGOs,
government and the for-profit sector as service providers. This helps to understand how
NGO’s role can be affected by the type of market arrangement whether it is competitive,
monopolistic or any other .It is hypothesised that in a competitive environment, NGOs would
tend to be more effective to ensure continued funding from donors. Also the nature of
relationship among donors would affect the way NGOs operate. If there is high cooperation
and coordination misuse of funds by NGOs from donors would be minimised. In addition, a
comparison of the cost-effectiveness of NGO’s work to that of the public and for-profit sector
will be made. Finally the comparative advantages which NGOs are assumed to possess will be
scrutinised.